Pay-off for Rothes

The Newsletter, vol. 6 no. 244, 14 April 1962 · scan page 4

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THE big pay-off at the Rothes pit, Fife, started thi Lists of 300 men who must sign on at the Labour E: have been posted. Miners collected their pay from the shouldered their kitbags containing working clothes. few have an immediate job to go to.

Miners with more than three years' service in the pit can draw redundancy pay, but there are many young miners who will not qualify for this.

Some of these have found other jobs locally but there are some whose 'good job for life' as advertised by the National Coal Board, is now over. Their future is uncertain, but this week they will be signing on the dole.

W. Stabler, Rothes NUM delegate, said, 'After hundreds of interviews, comparatively few men have been placed in other pits in Fife?

Most of these men have gone to lower paid 'on cost work', getting only the minimum rate of pay.

W. Clark, the Rothes NUM chairman, said: 'It is a tragedy that so few jobs are available and it seems clear to us that there has been no proper organization for ensuring that the maximum number of men would be placed elsewhere?

The activity of the NUM cadership and the strike-breaking f Alex Moffat and his officials in cotland has resulted in a rout at lothes.

change pit and Very There has been no intervention by the Queen or anyone else in high places to help the Fife miners and their attempts to fight by strike action were crushed by the NUM officials.

Now there is a complete collapse of leadership and every man fights for himself in the best way he can.

It is a scramble to secure decent jobs and provide for families as quickly as possible. The men no longer fight as a pit, simply as individuals.

More closures are to come in Scotland. Glenochil pit will shut down soon. Others will follow, probably 16 during this year. Robens has the list and it is known to the NUM officials.

The Rothes closure is a defeat hrought ahout hy treachery Rut auvul vy livavuvey. JuL lost battles can result in future victories if the lessons are learned and good leaders emerge.

The twin towers of Rothes pit are symbolic of the two enemies of the Scottish miner: capitalism backed by right-wing Labour and Stalinism as represented by the leadership of Moffat.

But Rothes can also become the starting point for the building of a new militant leadership in the Scottish coalfield.