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NION OF L U M A IN N E IO W T COAL O A R N K E NOT R OrgreaveThe Battle of Orgreave DOLE S 30 year anniversary www.strike84.co.uk Martin Shakeshaft - Orgreave Mass Picnic & Festival Saturday 14 June 2014 | 11.00am-7.00pm Catcliffe Recreation Ground, Poplar Way, Catcliffe, S60 5TZ 2 Programme 50p The Battle of Orgreave The Battle of Orgreave www.strike84.co.uk ON 18 JUNE 1984, in the first months of the year‑long miners’ strike against pit closures, pickets from across Britain headed for Orgreave coke depot outside Rotherham in South Yorkshire. The depot was supplying fuel to the country’s steelworks. Martin Shakeshaft - It was targeted by the National Union their backs and heads. Beaten miners, of Mineworkers whose members heads pouring blood, were arrested as were striking to defend their jobs, the assault continued. their coalmines, their families, their communities and their future. They had no The miners fled in the only direction knowledge of what awaited them. Police open to them, up a hillside, into woods. from 10 forces had been mobilised. To the They regrouped and returned, and miners’ surprise, police made no attempt using whatever they could lay their to prevent them reaching their target - no hands on - fence stakes, branches, road blocks, no halting of miners’ vehicles stones - retaliated. on motorways and road networks, as was happening around working mines. BBC editing That evening, film of the events at 10,000 miners Orgreave was edited by the BBC to show Instead the miners were advised where to the miners attacking first, and police park, and were directed into a field near responding with a charge – the exact the cokeworks. An estimated 10,000 reverse of what had really happened. miners were eventually gathered in an Ninety-five miners were arrested and area which was surrounded on three charged with riot - an offence which sides by massed ranks of police. carries a potential life sentence. In the aftermath, the charges were thrown June 18 was a hot summer’s day. The out by the courts as evidence mounted miners were lightly-clad - many in shorts, of police collusion in the preparation tee-shirts, plimsolls. The mood was good- of statements. Falsely-charged miners natured. There was the usual humorous collectively were paid £425,000 in banter from the pickets. Without warning compensation. the police ranks parted, and mounted, armoured, baton- wielding officers This then was the story of the Battle of charged. At full gallop they hurtled into Orgreave - an event which has gone down the ranks of the miners, battering all in Britain’s history of industrial struggle within reach. The cavalry charge was as one of the state’s most brutal acts of followed by the infantry - police on foot, violence against its own people. again wielding batons. The miners were in disarray, scattering, running for their What happened at Orgreave that day very lives. As they did so they were thirty years ago raised bigger questions attacked from behind by police, battering about the policing of the miners’ strike. Designed by Adam Di Chiara – bit.ly/1cHyK2T Special 2thanks to Martin Shakeshaft (www.strike84.co.uk) for the use of his images for this programme. 1 Printed by the Habro Printing Company, Featherstone, West Yorks WF7 5EX Orgreave 30 year anniversary The Battle of Orgreave Orgreave Mass Picnic & Festival Sponsors ASLEF National GMB Grimsby General Branch FBU National UNISON Greater London Region GMB National UNISON North West Region Musicians’ Union UNISON Leeds CMHS Branch PCS National UNISON Northamptonshire CC Branch TSSA National UNISON Wakefield Metropolitan District Branch UCATT National UNISON York City Branch ASLEF Bletchley (027) Branch UNISON Nottingham City ASLEF Brighton (35) Branch AMICUS Bamber Bridge Branch ASLEF Bristol Branch RMT Scottish Regional Council ASLEF Chester Branch RMT Edinburgh & Portobello District ASLEF Doncaster (61) Branch RMT South East Region ASLEF Feltham Electric Branch RMT Deptford Branch ASLEF Gateshead & Newcastle (082) Branch RMT Stockport & District Branch ASLEF Northern Line-North Branch FBU Region No 3 (North East) ASLEF Nottingham Branch NUT Barnsley Division ASLEF Penzance Branch Rotherham Teachers Association ASLEF Peterborough (161) Branch NUJ South Yorkshire Branch ASLEF Three Bridges (213) Branch TUC Southern & Eastern Reg. Council ASLEF Tyseley No 218 Branch TUC South East Northumberland ASLEF Wolverhampton 236 Branch TUC West Cheshire UNITE North East, Yorkshire & Humberside Bridgwater Trades Council Region Crewe & District Trades Council UNITE North West Region Dover District Trades Council UNITE Scottish Regional Accounts Leeds Trades Council UNITE South East Region Liverpool Trades Council UNITE Welsh Region Mansfield & Nottingham Trades Council UNITE West Midlands Region Merthyr Tydfil Trades Council UNITE Dartford 0290 Norwich & District Trades Council UNITE Manchester Central Branch (0604) Rotherham Trades Council UCATT Yorkshire Region Sheffield Trades Council UCATT Everton Branch No UD088 Spennymoor & Newton Aycliffe Trades Council UCATT Gillmoss (365) Branch Wolverhampton Bilston & District Trades UCATT UE131 Nottingham 6th Branch Council UCATT St Helens Branch Stoke-on-Trent Community Action Fund UCATT UE191 Wolverhampton Branch Morning Star www.strike84.co.uk GMB Yorkshire & North Derbyshire Region GMB Goole Branch Thompsons Solicitors GMB Midland & East Coast Region Jackie Evans (Nottingham MSG) GMB S27 Scunthorpe District & Apex Branch Brian Light (Colchester MSG) GMB Mid Lancs Branch Linda McAvan MEP GMB X07 NIE Branch Northern Ireland Dennis Skinner MP Martin Shakeshaft - 2 3 MESSAGE FROM Chris Kitchen “I am unable to attend the Orgreave picnic due to a pre-arranged engagement in the Calderdale Trades Council North East... supports Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign’s call for a I hope the event Public Enquiry into the policing goes well.” of the Orgreave Coking Plant in June 1984 Chris Kitchen National Secretary, National http://calderdaletuc.org.uk Union of Mineworkers SHEFFIELD TRADE UNION COUNCIL est.1858 Celebrating the struggle of the miners and their communities in the Miners Strike 30 years ago. We send solidarity greetings to all those LONDON attending the Mass Picnic organised by Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign MAGAZINE BRANCH Your fight is our fight! Is proud to support the Martin Mayer Bob Jeffery Orgreave Truth and Secretary President Justice Campaign. martin.mayer@unitetheunion .org [email protected] http://www.nujlmb.org.uk NION O L U F M A IN N E IO W T COAL O A N R K NOT E Orgreave Mass Picnic & Festival Programme 2014 R The Battle of Orgreave The Battle of Orgreave DOLE S TIME MAIN STAGE TIME ACOUSTIC STAGE Compere Attila the Stockbroker Compere Jeff Platts 11:00 – 12:00 Unite Brass Band. (On the field) 13:10 – 13:30 Jenny Willow Liverpool songstress Speakers: Barbara Jackson – Orgreave Truth & Justice 13:30 – 13:45 Tony Goodwin Pitman poet Campaign, Rick Sumner – Justice for Mineworkers’ Campaign, 13:45 – 14:05 Martin Black Doncaster balladeer 12:00 – 13:00 Betty Cook – Women Against Pit Closures, Dave Douglass – Former NUM official, Mike Mansfield QC, 14:05 – 14:20 Javaad Alipoor Bradford poet Ken Capstick – Former Vice-President NUM Yorkshire Area 14:20 – 14:45 Ray Hearne Irish rooted South Yorkshire folk Banner Theatre Entertainment for a change! The Red Flags duo with songs of struggle all the way from 13:00 – 14:00 It is the 40th Anniversary of Banner Theatre – their songs and 14:45 – 15:15 Norwich stories of struggle continue to inspire comrades everywhere. 15:15 – 15:45 Bruce Tality Foot stomping punk rock guitar and harmonica Speakers: Ann Field – Printers’ Union/Wapping Archive 14:00 – 14:15 Pedro Fuentes – Chile SCDA 15:45 – 16:15 Joe Solo Performer and raconteur Omar Puente & Friends 16:15 – 16:30 Dave Douglass NUM Legend 14:15 – 14:45 “A classical violinist with a heart that beats with a Cuban rhythm, 17:00 – 17:30 Quiet Loner Anthems for resistance a soul that is African, and a home in West Yorkshire” Womad 17:45 – 18:30 Louise Distras Passionate, powerful and punky! 14:45 – 15:00 Tribute to Bob Crow with RMT President Peter Pinkney We would like to thank all the artists who have donated their time, creative energy and passion for Sean Taylor “Springsteen and Taylor are cheering my day… 15:00 – 15:30 justice to perform at this event. The commitment of radical artists to the continuing class struggle brilliant, stunning songs.” Mike Harding is not only a constant source of inspiration but it is at the heart of all our hopes and dreams. Tony Goodwin – A former miner turned poet. His poems are 15:30 – 15:45 about life and love in a Northern town Snide Remarks A rock and roll band from Middlesbrough 15:45 – 16:15 with an original set of high energy songs that keep audiences on their toes! Tribute to Orgreave Veterans: Sheila Coleman – 16:15 – 16:30 Hillsborough Campaign, Arthur Critchlow – Orgreave Veteran, Children release balloons The Hurriers Barnsley’s very own, responsible for this year’s 16:30 – 17:00 ‘Battle of Orgreave’ anthem “Truth and Justice”. A proper Socialist Punk band like everyone needs! Western Promise One of Liverpool’s best live bands to have 17:15 – 17:45 www.strike84.co.uk supported the Hillsborough fight for justice for many years. Thee Faction Singing down the government with good 18:00 – 18:45 politics! Thee Faction are The Redskins meet Dr Feelgood; Revolutionary Socialism at its very best! 18:45 – 19:00 The struggle continues – closing speakers Martin Shakeshaft - 6 7 RUTH & J Other acts of police violence The Orgreave group now has a website, T US E T The Battle of Orgreave V I The Battle of Orgreave A C The launch had its own, almost regular meetings, and media and legal 30 YEARS OF LIES E COAL E R C immediate, knock-on effect – demands representation.