Strike talks ‘crucial’

Press, 1 November 1984, Page 6

Strike talks ‘crucial’

NZPA-Reuter London Britain’s striking miners were meeting the State-run National Coal Board for new peace talks today and there were signs that support for the miners’ strike was dwindling. One senior trade unionist, Jack Eccles, said yesterday that the Trades Union congress might have to intervene if the talks today failed to settle the dispute. Mr Eccles, chairman of the 10-million-strong congress, sharply criticised the miners’ union for sending an emissary to seek hardship funds from the Libyan

leader, Colonel Muammar Gadaffi. The move has caused a political furore and Mr Eccles called it a “terrible miscalculation.” His criticisms were not publicly endorsed by other labour leaders. The Congress said yesterday that the latest peace talks were "crucial.” “This lengthy and costly dispute can only be resolved by negotiated settlement. There is no other way.” Several British newspapers gave prominence yesterday to what they saw as a conspicuous failure by

the Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher, to declare her continuing confidence in the Coal Board’s chief, lan MacGregor.

The Opposition Leader, Mr Neil Kinnock, asked her in Parliament whether Mr MacGregor still commanded the confidence of the Government. Mrs Thatcher evaded the question. Commentators said that Mrs Thatcher was angry with Mr MacGregor for diverting public attention from the. N.U.M.’s Libyan links by demoting the board’s newly appointed chief spokesman.