Enamel badges produced by railworkers in support of the NUM, presentation pack
Ten greetings cards with envelopes using images of enamel badges.
Orpington ASLEF, South Kirby NUM and Frickley NUM (GC094)
Produced by Ray Cooper of Orpington Branch ASLEF at the end of the Miners’ Strike in 1985. 200 issued. 36mm x 23mm oval with scroll, gilt, green and red.
Southern Region ASLEF and Yorkshire Area NUM (GC095)
Produced by the late Derek Abrahams of Three Bridges (Sussex) ASLEF in 1984. 200 issued. 27mm round, scroll, gilt, blue, red, white, green, sky blue, yellow, dark red.
Three Bridges ASLEF and Hatfield Main NUM (GC096)
Produced in 1984 by the late Derek Abrahams of Three Bridges (Sussex) ASLEF. Hatfield Main Colliery, later re-named Hatfield Colliery, was one of the last deep mines in the UK when it closed in 2015. 22mm round with scroll, gilt, white, blue, dark red and orange.
Three Bridges ASLEF and Brodsworth NUM (GC097)
Produced by the late Derek Abrahams of Three Bridges (Sussex) ASLEF in 1984. Brodsworth Branch of the Yorkshire Area of the NUM represented workers at was one of the largest pits in the UK which closed in 1990. 27mm round with scroll, gilt, blue, red, white, green, yellow, sky blue, dark red and light brown.
Stratford ASLEF and Cynheidre Lodge NUM (GC098)
Produced by Stratford Branch of ASLEF (East London) during the Miners’ Strike of 1984/5 to raise funds for striking miners at Cynheidre Colliery, South Wales. The pit closed in 1991 with the loss of over a thousand jobs. 300 issued. 30mm x 20mm oval, gilt, red, blue and orange.
London Bridge ASLEF & Dinnington Branch NUM (GC099)
The enamel badge produced during the strike by the London Bridge Branch of ASLEF as a unity badge with Dinnington Branch of the Yorkshire Area of the NUM. Dinnington colliery closed in 1991. Two hundred issued. 40mm x 30mm oval, gilt and black.
Three Bridges ASLEF & Snowdon NUM (GC101)
Produced by the late Derek Abrahams of Three Bridges (Sussex) ASLEF as a fund raiser for miners at Snowdon Colliery, Kent, which closed in 1986. Approximately 250 produced. 23mm round with scroll, gilt, blue, light blue, white, red, green and brown.
Marylebone ASLEF and Kent Area of the NUM (GC102)
Produced by Jim Smith of Marylebone ASLEF as a fund raiser for Kent miners. Approximately 250 produced.32mm x 20mm oval, gilt, red, blue and yellow.
ASLEF, NUR and NUM (GC103)
Solid silver version of the official fund-raising badge. 1,000 produced. 26mm round, HMS, green, blue, red, white and black.
ASLEF & NUM (GC104)
Produced by Alan Pentney of the Charing Cross Depot, part of South East London Branch of ASLEF. 100 produced. 30mm fluted edge, gilt, red and white.
The Miners’ Strike 1984-85
The Miners’ Strike of 1984/5 was in defence of the coal industry, to protect jobs and communities. 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 members of the National Union of Mineworkers were killed on picket lines; David Jones on the 15th March 1984 and Joe Green on the 15th June 1984. Three people died digging for coal during the winter.
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
A minimum of 10p of the purchase price of this card is donated to the NJMC.
Photography by Martin Shakeshaft www.strike84.co.uk
Greetings cards’ photography, design and print by unionised labour.
www.martinshakeshaft.com www.kavitagraphics.co.uk www.russellpress.com (now closed)
Carton designed and printed by unionised labour.
www.kavitagraphics.co.uk www.rapspiderweb.co.uk
Enamel badges of the National Union of Mineworkers
Many thanks to Brian Witts for information, advice and access to his collection. Brian produces the definitive book about the enamel badges and a large format poster using images of the badges to illustrate the wreckage caused by the Thatcher government to the mining industry and the mining communities. Contact Past Pixels if you want details.