SPIRIT OF RESISTANCE

T rade unionists descended on Durham from all over the country to celebrate trade union resistance best illustrated by our old ally - the National Union of Mineworkers The Tories thought they had killed off the threat of the NUM once and for all but events like this show how the old miners’ slogan ‘bloodied but unbowed’ is as true now as it was twenty four years ago. Sure the Tories managed to decimate our mining communities by destroying Britain’s coal industry, but they haven’t taken away the sense of pride nor the spirit of resistance that lives on in the hearts of the ex-miners and their families. Neither should it be forgotten that many unions like the RMT benefitted from NUM activists coming into the rail industry and subsequently joining the union. My own branch in Edinburgh was strengthened by many such members including victimised miners Alex and Michael Hogg – who I’m glad to say were at the Durham ‘Big Meeting’ with their young families. The old miners’ colliery bands and their banners were the centre piece of the event and there was also a colourful display of support and solidarity from a wide variety of other unions, anti-fascist groups and other campaigning organisations. Forty five bands proudly played as they marched passed the assembled dignitaries on the traditional balcony of the Crown hotel. General Secretary Bob Crow stood there alongside Tony Benn, John Hendy QC, Rodney Bickerstaffe and Ricky Tomlinson. Dave Hopper, the long standing miners’ leader for the North East of England, was delighted with the turn out and he proclaimed that the Durham Miners Gala had stood the test of time and is now the largest trade union gathering in the country. As each band entered the main park the union banners were proudly displayed and we counted over one hundred and fifty which included six from the RMT. Just before the main speakers entertained the large crowd the sound system exploded into life with the compare announcing that ‘coming through the clouds’ above them was a massive 55 foot RMT banner being hauled behind a plane which banner read: ‘Resist Unjust Euro Laws – Don’t Give Up The Fight!’ For the first time RMT had a stall which proved to be very popular. Newly designed RMT t-shirts and merchandise were selling fast and many leaflets about the threatened privatisation of the Tyne and Wear Metro were also handed out. RMT’s profile has never been higher as a result of the energy our activists. Many people came to our stall and said how they wished ‘their union was like the RMT’. They appreciate the RMT is a campaigning, fighting and democratic union that isn’t afraid to stand up for its members and to organise our members into the strongest possible force in order to win improvements in the workplace. The union also argues for a better society in line with the policies set by our members at our democratic meetings. So all in all we take these remarks as the compliments they were intended to be but we will never rest on our laurels. So let’s make 2009 another great year for the Durham Miners’ Gala by organising a huge RMT turnout and we will no doubt have a few more surprises next year! RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: september 2008 :: RMTnews 32 SPIRIT OF RESISTANCE Alan Pottage reports from this year’s annual Durham Miners Gala which attracted over 40,000 people Photograph by Roslyn Gaunt