Growing unrest keeps Thatcher in Britain

Press, 31 August 1984, Page 6

Growing unrest keeps Thatcher in Britain

NZPA-Reuter London The British Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher, has put off a Far Eastern tour because of Britain’s coal and dock strikes in a move apparently reflecting concern that labour strife may continue well into next month. Mrs Thatcher’s two-week visit to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka was planned for the second half of September. Her Downing Street office announced yesterday that “against the background of the present industrial situation, it would not be right for her to be so far from Britain for this period.” Officials moved quickly to deny that the postponement meant that the Government expected no early settlement of the twin strikes — a 24-week-old miners’ dispute over pit closings and a related dockers’ stoppage, now entering its seventh day.

Political observers, however, took a different view, saying that the move showed how worried Mrs Thatcher was about the deepening crisis. “It suggests that despite the optimistic noises coming out of Downing Street, Ministers are bracing themselves for a prolonged dock strike,” one television commentator said. The national dock strike — the second in six weeks — has been solid at key ports handling about 45 per cent of Britain’s non-fuel

seaborne trade. It has brought out more than 10,000 workers.

Many, however, have defied the strike call, saying that the dispute has more to do with backing the miners than with their own industry.

The dispute was sparked by the use of non-union labour to unload coal for a Scottish steel mill picketed by miners. A second “blacked” freighter carrying 105,000 tonnes of iron ore berthed at the Hunterston terminal on Wednesday. Eighty-seven striking miners were arrested in Scotland on Wednesday when pickets surrounded the home of a working miner.

The strike’s success continues to remain in the balance, with signs that support is crumbling in northeast England. A meeting today of 3000 dockers at Tilbury, which handles half of London’s freight, is regarded as crucial. A third of its men have already voiced their opposition to a walkout. Further votes are due at Dover and Felixstowe today.

Observers said that the continued uncertainty over the strike’s impact had prompted Mrs Thatcher’s decision to call off her Asian tour. “Had the miners alone been on the picket line, she would almost certainly have gone ahead,” one said.

The Opposition Labour Party welcomed the post-

ponement, but said there was little point in Mrs Thatcher staying at home if she was not going to do anything.

“At last Mrs Thatcher has recognised the gravity of the present industrial crisis,” the deputy leader of the Labour Party, Mr Roy Hattersley, said. “Let us hope ... that she will now act”

It was high time that the Government stepped in to get negotiations going, other senior party officials echoed.

Mrs Thatcher has repeatedly said she would not intervene, saying that the disputes were for the industries affected to resolve.

Conservative Party sources said she had now made it impossible for the Government to continue with the line that it was not directly involved. “The Times” newspaper said yesterday that there were strong chances that a state of emergency would have to be called if the dock strike began to bite hard. Last month’s 12-day stoppage, which paralysed 61 ports over a similar local dispute, sparked Government warnings that the Army could be brought in to ensure essential supplies. An opinion poll published on Wednesday indicated that the Conservatives and Labour were now neck and neck in popularity after earlier polls had shown that the Opposition was in the lead.