WOMEN who fought to save Britain’s coalmining industry in 1984-5 reunited in celebration in Durham on Saturday.
Activists with the Women Against Pit Closures movement gathered in the city, which was at the heart of the Durham coalfield, ahead of the 40th anniversary of the start of the miners’ strike against pit closures this week.
They marched proudly, many carrying their original banners from the strike, from Durham Cathedral to a celebration held at Durham Students’ Union.
Along with veterans from the strike were new generations of activists, including daughters and grand-daughters of some of the coalfield women who mobilised in 1984.
Crowds lining the streets applauded as the women marched past.
The women at the head of the march included National Women Against Pit Closures secretary Heather Wood, from Easington in Co Durham and one of the original WAPC activists, and Betty Cook from Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
The women’s message was clear: “Still here. Still fighting!”
The celebration included delegations of women from overseas, including the US, Germany, the Netherlands and France, who had supported the strike and formed alliances with WAPC groups.
Durham Labour MP Mary Foy told the gathering in the students’ union: “Margaret Thatcher tried to divide our communities and our class.
“But just look around us now. We are still here and we are still fighting.
“If we all stand together you cannot defeat the working class.”
She talked about the lasting effects of the WAPC movement.
“Women became councillors, MPs,” she said. “We were still involved in mutual aid groups during the pandemic.”
Referring to recent waves of strike action she said: “Today women are not supporting the pickets. They are the pickets.”
Sarah Woolley, first female general secretary of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers union, said the trade union movement needed to put its own house in order, with more women in leadership posts.
“I think our movement is slowly changing. We’ve had the election of Fran Heathcote,” she said, referring to the new general secretary of Civil Service union PCS, who also spoke at the rally.
“And I am proud to be here among so many strong women.”
