Agecroft Strikers Wives
Lancashire Area of the NUM

Members of the Pendlebury Branch of the NUM and craftsmen at Agecroft Colliery, Salford, Lancashire, were spilt over taking strike action at the beginning of the 1984/5 strike. A minority stayed on strike but did not have the support of the Branch. As in other areas across the country, the women rallied to aid the striking miners and played a significant role in providing material support. This is their banner. It is retained at the offices of the Lancashire Area of the NUM.  Eventually the Lancashire Women Against Pit Closures was formed. Made with ‘gaffer tape’ and paint on cotton.

Thanks to Paul Kelly for assistance, Joe Gorringe at Astley and Tyldesley Miners Welfare Club for enabling the photography and members of the Lancashire Area of the NUM for information.

The National Justice for Mineworkers Campaign

Our objectives are to keep the issue of victimised miners to the forefront of the labour and trade union movement and to raise money to alleviate hardship among the families of the victimised men.

By the end of the strike in March 1985, 200 mineworkers served time in prison or custody, 20,000 people had been injured and 966 mineworkers had been sacked by the NCB.  Two miners were killed on picket lines; David Jones on the 15th March 1984 and Joe Green on the 15th June 1984.

The 966 men were originally sacked for no more than honouring picket lines, defending their jobs and pit communities, their class and the future of their children. Only a small number had been dismissed for offences against the person or damage to property. Many miners subsequently cleared by the courts were not re-instated and neither were many more who successfully won their cases for unfair dismissal at Industrial Tribunals. Many were even blacklisted from getting any work outside the coal industry.
NJMC is supported by the NUM, Labour Party, TUC conferences and many national & regional unions.

National Justice for Mineworkers Campaign
2 Hilden Street
Leigh
WN7 4LG
www.njfm.org.uk
01942 606 828

Photography by Martin Shakeshaft
Photography, design and print by unionised labour.
www.martinshakeshaft.com   www.kavitagraphics.co.uk   www.russellpress.com