Recalling days of When we were Miners

When we were Miners

A book by Ian Isaac, publication date March 2010, to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the ending of the 1984-83 miners' strike.

 

The miners' strike of 1984-85 was a pivotal moment in Welsh history that changed the character and outlook of valley communities irreversibly. Ian Isaac was in the frontline of that epic and bitter struggle to retain the mining industry and to save valley communities from destruction

In this personal account, Ian recalls what it was to be an area leader of the South Wales miners before, during and after the strike. He recalls the battles during that period from his position as a member of the South Wales NUM executive from 1983 to 1988, and as lodge secretary of St John's NUM in Maesteg from 1978 to 1986.

The book recounts the build-up to the 1984-85 strike, the colossal struggles, solidarity and humour of the miners and their communities, during the strike and the enduring bitterness that the defeat of the strike brought, along with a devastating economic and social aftermath in the vastly changed world of the mining communities.

Ian Isaac stood for president of the South Wales NUM with the support of his lodge at the same time as conducting a high-profile campaign to keep St John's Colliery open in 1985.

Ian worked in the mining industry for 15 years from 1974 to 1989. He was one of the youngest ever full-time officers in the NUM becoming full-time NUM lodge secretary at the age of 26 and NUM area executive council member at the age of 31.

PART ONE

1974 –1984

Ten years preparing for battle - explains the background to the dispute and issues facing miners in their daily working lives.

PART TWO

1984: The strike - recalls the momentous battle and the meticulous organisation that went into the strike by the NUM members, organising picketing and negotiating agreements with companies and other unions during it.

PART THREE

1985: Keep mining in Maesteg - covers the strenuous campaign by rank-and-file miners in Wales to return Arthur Scargill as NUM President despite a complete turn to the right by the South Miners Executive in 1987 after Ian had been exiled to a methane drainage plant until he left the industry having been sacked in 1989.

 

Sample text:

"There were, however, a few dubious requests that came in our direction from the Pontypridd strike HQ for pickets to do strange things. I came back from the Midlands one day to find men in the strike centre making pinholes and blowing the yokes and whites out of eggs and refilling them with paint and then covering over them with sellotape.

These were intended to be thrown at coal lorries leaving the steelworks in Margam.

When this eventually happened, frightening scenes ensued, which I told Charlie (our lodge chairman) that this was out of order and not to be repeated. A similar event took place on the bridge over the motorway at Sarn, near Bridgend, when local striking miners had colliery hardwoods on the pavement and were about to throw them at lorries on the motorway, which was full of bank holiday traffic.

Fearful of how this could develop, I stopped my car quickly and drove onto the pavement, I told them who I was and asked the men to take the material away and not to be so stupid. This kind of prank could have killed someone."

 

 

Further information: Ken Smith on 07840 168071 or kenrsmith47@googlemail.com

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