SN A tt ee de Es Ge By MIKE PHILLIPS Last of a three-part interview with Mick McGahey, leader of the Scottish area of Britain’s National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and vice-president of the NUM. ., Se, Bs Could you tell us what lies ahead for British miners in the immediate period? McGahey: The British miners union, at its annual conference this July took up some very progressive policies. Arising from our experience in February, this year, when the Coal Board, (government agents who run the coal industry) threatened to close 23 collieries with the loss of 25-30,000 jobs, there was an im- mediate response from the miners — a massive strike action that compelled the government to withdraw _ these proposals. It’s clear the government felt they couldn’t face the wrath of the miners and they were required to change course. I believe it was a temporary step — 4 tactical step on the part of the govern- ment because I still believe they intend to continue with methods of closing col- lieries which they call ‘‘uneconomic’’. This is a phrase which must be ques- tioned at all times. What do they mean by an ‘‘uneconomic”’ colliery? If oil prices increase, the colliery that was ‘‘un- economic’’ yesterday become very economical today. at And, if the oil moguls start to manipu- late the price of oil, the colliery that’s profitable today could become unprofit- able tomorrow in terms of the energy market. The miners conference took a definite position of opposing all colliery closures except for exhaustion. economic arguments for destroying the industry. We also adopted proposals that took on policy decisions for the expansion of the whole industry. We had a resolution passed unanimously demanding that the target of the mining industry in Britain should be increased for deep-mined coal to 200 million tons. This would mean a massive investment and expansion of the industry which at the moment is produc- | ing deep-mined coal somewhere in the region of 108-110-million tons. The conference also took a very im- portant decision in calling for an economic strategy to halt the de-indus- trialization of Britain and for greater in- vestment to expand British industries. It called for import controls and for mea- sures controlling the outflow of capital from the country. The miners rejected any mandatory or voluntary forms of an incomes policy, and took an historic decision demanding for the first time, that Britain adopt a policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament. In fact, the resolution from the Scottich Area of the union calling for the uni- lateral disarmament, for the progressive enforcement of peace and détente, will _ be the subject ofa resolution to the Labor Party conference from the British miners The union is now in a very strong pro- gressive position on a general political, social and economic basis. Don’t forget that Joe Gormley, the incumbant presi- dent will be retiring and in October and In other words we do not accept the « ‘Nationalization push in Britain November this year-the union will be ina process of an election for the national presidency. A young left candidate, adopted by many of the progressive areas of the union and comes from Yorkshire, the biggest coalfield in the miners’ union — Arthur Scargill — will be running for the job on a progressive platform. You mentioned earlier that extending. public ownership under democratic con- trol over greater sections of industry is one of the demands being raised by the left and the Labor Party, what sectors do you think this should apply to? McGahey: Well, for instance, the oil industry. Why shouldn’t North Sea oil be nationalized and harmonized in a proper energy program? What about the qués- tion of the large engineering industries, road transport, and let’s not exclude the question of the banks and insurance companies. The real pillars of power in British capitalism need to be brought under democratic control through public ownership so that the people of Britain are properly in a position to control the destinies of their country and not suffer the manipulations of the multinationals. Do you think the recent victory for the nc tai A PY Ne ES Big British politics? McGahey: I think Mitterand’s election with the inclusion of four communists in his cabinet will have a bearing on British politics because of the interdependence of the two countries on one another with- in the Common Market, for example, and because of the market situation in the evolution of the common agricultural policy. Also, there’s a strong affinity be- tween the French and British people, after all 21 miles of the English channel does not separate common interests. Do you see the French election as possi- bly developing a trend in Western Euro- pean politics? McGahey: If we have a situation where we have France going in a left direction, if we have a general election in Britain with a left committed to Labor govern-. ment-implemented policy decisions of the party conference, it would have its effect in Europe itself. Developments in Italy and the possibility of broad peoples’ governments in major countries in West- ern Europe would have a significant ef- fect, not only for those countries them- selves, but in terms of world peace. If I were to give you the opportunity to extend greetings and best wished to Cana- dian workers from the British working class which you so ably and faithfully represent what would those wishes be? McGahey: First I’d wish for an end to the threat of war. Peace is not just the absence of war, but the realization of the need for the peoples of the world to take control of their destiny and to end the mad race for armaments and to channel this wasteful effort into more positive channels for creating a future — a better life not only for the people of the rest of the world, not only for the strong arma- a ee PACIFIC TRIBUNE— SEPT. 25, 1981—Page, 10 ments-producing countries, but for the — people of the third world to channel their resources into more positive directions. I say that if we can establish that, and build democratic control by the people who produce the wealth of the country — that is the working class and the farmers — build democratic control of the re- sources of their country, then let me say I hope that will create the conditions for an advance to a socialist society which is the best guarantee of peace and better living standards for all. - guarantee of peace and better om MCGAHEY ... ‘socialist ety best standards for all’. | Thompson Inco Strike support solid nar to the Tribune THOMPSON, Manitoba — The 1,900 members of Local 6166, United Steel- workers of America shut down the Inco mine, mill and smelter operation here just after midnight, Sept. 16. -The walkout follows rejection of the last company offer in a vote two days earlier in which a heavy turnout of workers turned down the offer by more than 70%, Inco claimed its offer is the richest ever made to industrial workers in Canada. Blake McGrath; president of Local 6166 replied that ‘‘they will. have to come back with a contract a hell of a lot better than the ones that have been agreed to in the basic steel industry, to meet the needs of the people up here.’’Inco’s basic offer is a. three-year package with $1 the first year and 15 cents in each of the next two years. But the company claims that shift differentials and COLA raises mean that their offer is worth up to 55%, or $5.78 over the life of the contract. McGrath says the company’s calculations misrepresent the offer and include cost-of-living adjustments negotiated in earlier contracts. The union is asking a $2 per hour increase over one year. The one year pact is seen as important to bring Thompson into industry-wide coordinated bargaining with Inco’s Sudbury and Port Colborne, Ontario operations for next year’s negotiations. Inco says it has made a fantastic offer and has a stockpile which will allow it to keep the operation shut until its offer is accepted. Union officials say the workers are solid, and will win the strike. Local support for Local 6166 is spreading. During: negotiations a workers’ wives committee was formed and leafleted the plants and mines urging a solid strike vote. As well, the Thompson Chamber of Commerce has donated $1,000 to the strike fund. HAMILTON — Three fired hospital workers finally got back out more than seven months, and losing about $10,000 each in pay. The three, members of CUPE Local 778 in Hamilton were fired ter’s Hospital, effective Feb. 4, following the determined efforts of Ontario hospital workers to ob- “tain a fair contract settlement with ~ the Ontario Hospital Association ‘and the province’ s Tory govern- “ment. ~ Lois Hill, were the only five workers fired in Hamilton Hospi- to as agai _ Fired workers reinstated - to work September 8, after being . wages, benefits and retroactive — along with two others from St. Pe-