Arthur Scargill Biography and Timeline

Strike

Leads picketing that helps force closure of Saltley Coke Depot in Birmingham.

NUM

Appointed President of the NUM

Coal Industry Ballot

Arthur Scargill led the NUM during a period when proposed industrial action against coal closures failed to secure sufficient national ballot support.

NUM Challenges NCB

Arthur Scargill challenged the NCB over the future of uneconomic mines after becoming union president.

NUM New Presidency

Arthur Scargill became president of the National Union of Mineworkers and campaigned against pit closures.

Strike Ballot Defeat

NUM members rejected proposals for national strike action during an early confrontation over the coal industry.

Conference of NUM

The NUM Delegate Conference votes for an overtime ban

NCB Pay Offer Rejected

The miners union rejected the Coal Board wage proposal while opposing closures and reductions in manpower.

NUM Closure Policy

The union reaffirmed opposition to colliery closures except where coal reserves were exhausted.

Coal Overtime Ban

Arthur Scargill supported an overtime ban as the NUM contested the Coal Board's pay offer and closure plans.

NUM Overtime Embargo

The union imposed an overtime ban in protest at pay and threatened job losses.

Strike

The NUM bans overtime

Strike

The NCB announce closure of Cortonwood in Yorkshire sparking off the Miners Strike

Strike

Miners strike in South Yorkshire and some Scottish pits

Strike

The National Coal Board announces plans to cut coal output by 4 million tons to stem annual loss of $340 million a year. National Union of Mineworkers say this will mean closing 20 pits and loss of 20,000 jobs

NCB Closure Opposition

Arthur Scargill publicly opposed the Board's proposed reduction in coal output and mine closures.

Strike

The NUM executive backs nationwide strikes

Strike

The NUM National Executive supports Yorkshire & Scotland without a national ballot

NUM Executive Endorses Strike

The NUM national executive supported action in areas already on strike as the dispute broadened.

Strike

Durham and Kent coalfields join the strike

Strike

National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) chief Arthur Scargill unites various strikes into nationwide industrial action, without a ballot

Strike

The beginning of the Miners Strike, during the 1st day 100 pits are closed down

NUM Strike Without National Ballot

The union supported area based strike action without conducting a single national vote of all members.

Nottinghamshire Flying Pickets

Pickets from other coalfields travelled to working Nottinghamshire collieries hoping to persuade miners to stop work.

Strike

The Midlands, Northeast and Northwest miners vote against strike

Strike

Some 8,000 police guard mines roadblocks across Midlands in the biggest police operation in a labor dispute since the 1926 general strike

Nottinghamshire Police Roadblocks

Police deployments and roadblocks restricted the movement of flying pickets approaching Nottinghamshire collieries.

Strike

Scargill vetoes a national ballot on the miners strike

Role range: 1979-1990

NUM Conference Rejects Ballot

Delegates at a special conference supported continuing action without a new national strike ballot.

Strike

The NUM Special Delegate Conference votes to reduce the majority needed for a strike

Strike

Rival groups of miners throw stones and hurl bricks at each other when 5,000 working miners stage a right-to-work march

Nottinghamshire May Demonstration

Working miners in Nottinghamshire staged a protest asserting their right to continue working.

Nottinghamshire Mansfield March

Miners and supporters demonstrated in Mansfield as local tensions over the strike deepened.

Strike

Negotiations begin with the NCB, Scargill says only exhausted pits should close

NUM Orgreave Picketing

Arthur Scargill supported mass picketing at Orgreave as miners attempted to disrupt coke movements.

First Orgreave Mass Picket

Arthur Scargill backed the attempt by striking miners to disrupt coke deliveries from the Orgreave plant.

Arrest of Arthur Scargill

Scargill arrested on Orgreave picket line

Strike

Scargill arrested on Orgreave picket line

NUM Leader Arrested

Police arrested Arthur Scargill at Orgreave during picketing linked to the miners strike.

Scargill Arrest At Orgreave

Police arrested NUM president Arthur Scargill during a day of confrontation outside Orgreave.