Economic Developments: The 1984/5 Miners' Strike Flashcards
When did the 1984/5 Miners’ Strike last from?
March 1984 to March 1985
What was the significance of the length of the Miners Strike dispute?
It was the longest strike event since the end of WWII
What did the Coal Board announce in March 1984?
They would close 20 coal pits
Why did the Coal Board announce this?
North Sea Oil and foreign coal imports were cheaper than British coal
How many jobs would be lost from the closure of 20 pits?
20,000 jobs
Who was the Leader of the NUM by 1984?
Arthur Scargill
What could Scargill have done in response to the closure of 20 pits?
Called a national ballot to strike
Why did Scargill not call a national ballot?
Because coal pits in Nottinghamshire were thriving and would not want to strike
What did Scargill do rather than calling a national ballot?
He encouraged pits in Yorkshire to strike
How had the government prepared for the 1984 Coal Strike?
They had stocked up 6 months worth of coal
What was significant about the coal preparation by Thatcher’s government?
It was different to how Heath responded to the Coal Strikes in the 1970s
How did Thatcher legally prepare for the 1984 Coal Strike?
She had already implemented the 1980 and 1982 Employment Acts
What was the result of the 1984/5 Miners’ Strike?
The workers failed to prevent the closure of the pits
How had Thatcher prepared law enforcement for the strikes?
She had equipped the police with up-to-date equipment to fight strikers if necessary
Why was the Coal Industry divided over the strike?
Lots of mines were doing very well
