Just to highlight the 40th anniversary of 'The Battle of Saltley Gate'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9694000/9694645.stmSo what was it? Back in 1972 our Conservative government under Ted Heath seriously underestimated the solidarity of the working class. The miners wages had not been rising with inflation, so much so, that by 1972 they were estimated to be 40% lower than other industries. Arthur Scargill led the miners to their first strike in fifty years.
My fair City of Birmingham was once a thriving centre of industry. Huge numbers of the work force belonged to trade unions.
On the morning of 10th Feb 1972 the Saltley Coke Works was picketed and closed. After a vote whereby there was 98% support, thirty thousand workers in brum chose to 'down tools' to support the miners.
Just think about that for a moment - thirty thousand workers, not miners but sparky's, engineers etc all downed tools NOT to increase their own salaries BUT to support the rights of the miners. I don't know if we have ever showed such camaraderie since that day.
It was a victory of the working class v the government. Ted Heath crumbled. The police could not stop the pickets and there was no more coal going out the National Grid. Across the UK lights were literally going out. The government cracked and gave the miners a 27% pay rise. It was a battle won, in a war that was lost against the next PM - the Iron Lady.
Thatcher effectively 'broke the link of dirty hands' and took powers away from trade unions. She convinced the silent majority of the UK that it was the Unions who had crippled the country. But who had been printing money left right and centre then blaming unions for the inflation and then freezing peoples pay? - it was her government!!
And who is responsible for todays economic crissis? Can't blame the Trade Unions or the Miners for this mo fo! The banks and financial institutions have done more damage to this country than a bunch of underpaid miners ever could.
I just love to see the underdog win. I am a rebel at heart and on every level i seem to clash with authority. School, work, even my brief spell in the army where my Sargent told me i had an 'inbuilt aversion to authority'
For me i have always felt that the people who are the big decision makers are quite often - unworthy. I love the whole 'people power' thing. I supported the student demo's even when there were a few 'violent clashes' and the rest of the UK turned away in shame.
When do peaceful demonstrations make the headlines. I thought the students were spot on when they came across Prince Charles and Camilla on a night out in their limousine - they didn't harm the royals at all .... but the limo got a bit battered. Many thought they went too far. Not me. I have something in my blood that drives me to support such events. I am a rebel.