CLARNEY, Peter (fl 1972)

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 1924 Clarney
Held at	: Trades Union Congress (TUC) Library Collections at London Metropolitan University   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://student.londonmet.ac.uk/library/using-the-library/special-collections/trades-union-congress-library-collections/ ›
Full title	: CLARNEY, Peter (fl 1972)
Date(s)	: 1972
Level of description	: Collection (Fonds)
Extent	: 1 item
Name of creator(s)	: Clarney | Peter | fl 1972 | coal miner

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

In November 1971 the National Union of Mineworkers began an overtime ban following the breakdown of pay negotiations. The Union held a strike ballot, and gave the National Coal Board (NCB) four weeks notice of strike action to begin on 9 Jan 1972. The NCB's final offer of a pay rise of 7.9% was rejected by the NUM, which also rejected arbitration. In the first few days of the strike the miners successfully concentrated on securing the support of the transport unions, and stopping the movement of coal. The weak spot was road transport, which was not fully unionised, and there were considerable numbers of hauliers willing to cross picket lines. There were serious clashes, particularly at the Coalite Smokeless Fuel plant at Grimethorpe in Yorkshire, where road tankers moving fuel had been pelted with coke. Some 300 miners had were involved in the Grimethorpe picket, and the tactic of the mass picket became the standard tactic of the Yorkshire miners.

After three weeks of industrial action the miners were having an impact beyond their wildest expectations. There were over 1000 'flying pickets' in East Anglia, and every pit, coal dump, port and coal installation in the country was covered by NUM pickets. With the movement of coal halted the pickets then concentrated on the movement of oil and other supplies to power stations. The arrival of colder weather at the end of January forced increasingly frequent power cuts, and lay offs in industry. Solidarity with the miners was undamaged, and they enjoyed a considerable degree of public sympathy. The Government declared a state of emergency to deal with the crisis.

All attempts at a settlement foundered on the NUM's demand for more on basic pay rates, which required Government approval. In February the Government appointed a Court of Inquiry under Lord Wilberforce, to find a settlement. The Wilberforce report recommended a 'general and exceptional' pay increase for miners, this was accepted by all parties, and picketing ended on 22 February 1972.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Photocopy of personal diary of 1972 coal mineworkers strike by Peter Clarney, member of National Union of Miners (NUM) Yorkshire Area.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Single item

Conditions governing access:

Open to bona fide researchers at the discretion of the TUC Librarian.

Conditions governing reproduction:

At the discretion of the TUC Librarian and subject to copyright conditions.

Finding aids:

None

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers were transferred to he TUC Library Collections in the University of North London by the TUC.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Mar 2002