Te A AAS ee Letters ‘Despite Frank Clarke, Branch President, National Union of Mineworkers, Yorkshire, England, Writes: I would like to take the opportunity of giving you an up-to-date position now that we are back to work, and also thank you all for the magnificent support you gave us, both financially and morally dur- ing our fight. It would appear that you! in Canada are also suffering under the vicious Tory pol- icy and the triple alliance of Reagan, Thatcher and Mulroney that is trying to smash the labor and trade union move- ment by any means possible, as we fore- cast last winter. Well, friends, at the time of writing we have been back at work approximately 17 weeks, and what a traumatic 17 weeks they have been. The National Coal Board has, and still is, treating us with total con- tempt. Local branch officials are being totally ignored and made to return to normal work, and all agreements have been scrapped by the employers. Rank and file members are having to work under duress, with constant harass- ment from the management who threaten them with dismissal when they refuse to toe the line. ( » Doctorate degraded A.C.L. Hughes, Vancouver, writes: The conference of an honorary doc- tor of law degree on International Woodworkers regional president _ Jack Munro has reduced the quality of the supposed honor for all future recipients. There should be no doubt in the minds of workers at any level that Mr. Munrois little less than a traitor to their cause. By cozying up to Bill Bennett at a time when the Solidarity movement was on the verge of bringing the government to a compromise, this character played a role that can only be labelled “treasonable.” That the University of B.C. gov- ernors think so little of their institu- tion’s reputation is, to my mind, frightening. Noe setbacks, the fight goes on’ The scabs have got almost total control of their workplace and are immune from any disciplinary action by the NCB, yet striking miners are being dismissed with- out trial for alleged verbal abuse, in kan- garoo courts where the colliery general manager sets himself up as judge and jury. I have seen four workers dismissed in this manner since we resumed work. Safety visits and meetings have been cut, thereby affecting safety standards at the mines. At the time of writing there are 620 men dismissed by the board for alleged offences committed during the strike, and there are a further 1,200 who are due for dismissal, pending court hearings. Mr. (Ian) McGregor (the U.S. coal executive appointed to head the NCB by the Thatcher government) says he intends to make these people pay for their “insu- bordination and insurrection.” Can you imagine a chairman of a national com- pany making such an astonishing state- ment? We have just had our annual national conference on behalf of the NUM in Shef- field, Yorkshire. The Nottingham area of the NUM walked out of the week-long conference midway through the proceedings, and have since held their own conference where they decided to break away from the NUM. They are now canvassing rigorously throughout the country for members to join the bosses union, as it is known. They have also sacked their president and gen- eral secretary who supported the national union. All this without a ballot. That’ s demo- cracy for you. The National Coal Board and Mrs. Thatcher and her government have welcomed this move and imme- diately started negotiations for better wages and security to reward them for their loyalty. Doesn’t it make you sick? As you can well imagine, we are going through a very traumatic period and the media are having a field day attacking (NUM president Arthur) Scargill and any MP who supports the miners. He says we have damaged the party, but forgets that it is people like himself who damage. the party by forgetting where they came from when they got the top jobs. That’s why everyone attacks Scargill FRANK CLARKE — because he stands firm with those he represents. On the financial front we are still having severe problems. The sequestration orders are still upon us, and the receiver still has control of our funds, other than the dona- tions sent from international friends, and trade unions within our country. My own branch at the South Kirkby is almost bankrupt after spending our money on hardship for the members dur- ing the dispute. Although it would appear that I am painting a very black picture, I want to make it clear the fight goes on. The board has immediately commenced with a pit closure program, and it is reported that 50 pits will be closed in the next two years — so do not be surprised to see a further strike by the miners, to protect their jobs and communities. Mrs. Thatcher and her government are at their lowest ebb yet, and have just come last in a traditionally strong Tory seat in a recent byelection. The fight against Toryism and capital- ism must go on if we are to win. As I have said previously, the labor and trade union movement worldwide must unite as soon as possible if we are to survive. I hope this message can be passed on to all working class bodies at every opportunity. I will close my letter once again thank- ing you all very much for your fabulous support, and the kindness you gave my wife Val and myself on our marvelous visit. In particular, thanks to: Dave and Maureen Werlin; Tony and Betty Mardi- ros; Bert and Jill Ogden; Bill and Dolores Stewart and family; Phil and Gwen Oates and Yorkies; Frank and Lou Kennedy; Kim Zander and friends; George Hewi- son. Frank Clarke, president of NUM’s South Kirkby Colliery branch, toured B.C. and other provinces last fall receiving financial aid and moral support from Canadian trade unionists for the British mineworkers’ cause. JOIN THE GREAT al “mel pee ie 3 emeget ee pe ee ee oe With GLOBE TOURS For any of your travel needs big or small. Let Globe Tours find the best way for you. Specializing in tours to the USSR GLOBE TOURS 2679 E. Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. V5K 1Z5 253-1221 Classified Advertising a COMING EVENTS LEGAL SERVICES AUG. 17 — Annual ACE barbeque at Alice Person’s, 599 Chapman Ave., Coquitlam. Sal- mon &all the trimmings, hot dogs, hamburgers. Entertainment, refreshments. Adm: $8, $5 oap, unemployed, children under 12. Everyone wel- come. Phone 936-7308 for more info. AUG. 18 — COPE GARDEN PARTY. See dis- play ad for details. AUG. 25 — Fraser Valley Region Family Pic- nic. 11 a.m at Webster's Corners, Dewdney Trunk Road. Speakers, games, food, refresh- ments. 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