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| NUM | |
|---|---|
| Name | NUM |
| Abbreviation | NUM |
| Formation | 20th century |
| Type | Trade union / Association |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Region served | United Kingdom |
| Membership | Historic mining workforce |
| Leader title | General Secretary |
NUM
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is a trade union historically representing coal miners, notable for its role in industrial action, political engagement, and labor organization across the United Kingdom. Founded from earlier miners' federations, the NUM has intersected with key figures and institutions of British political life, aligning with and opposing administrations, influencing legislation, and participating in landmark strikes and inquiries. Its trajectory connects to major events, courts, parliamentary debates, and local and national leadership contests.
The acronym derives from the union’s formal title formed in the early 20th century during consolidation efforts among regional coalfield organizations, including predecessors such as the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, the Yorkshire Miners' Association, the Northumberland Miners' Association, and the South Wales Miners' Federation. Naming conventions paralleled other national bodies like the National Union of Railwaymen and the National Union of Seamen, adopting the "National Union of..." formula used by the Trades Union Congress affiliates. The title reflected ambitions to unify disparate districts such as the Derbyshire Miners' Association, the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners' Federation, and the Scottish Miners' Federation under a single national banner.
NUM’s origins trace through industrial disputes that involved leaders such as A. J. Cook, Arthur Scargill, and earlier figures like Robert Smillie. The union played central roles in events including the 1926 General Strike, the 1972 and 1974 miners' strikes, and the 1984–85 miners' strike, which brought it into confrontation with Conservative administrations led by Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher. NUM disputes intersected with legal and political institutions including the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and inquiries such as those convened by local magistrates and national commissions. The union’s shifting fortunes related to nationalization under the National Coal Board and subsequent privatization and pit closures influenced its membership patterns and strategies, with links to parliamentary groups like the Labour Party and interactions with organizations such as the Trades Union Congress.
NUM’s internal model incorporated district and area branches mirroring coalfield geography—examples include the Nottinghamshire Miners' Association district structures, the Durham Miners' Association districts, and the South Wales Miners' Federation districts. Governance features included election of a General Secretary and executive committees comparable to roles in unions like the Amalgamated Engineering Union and National Union of Seamen. Annual conferences involved delegates from lodges and collieries, with ballots and rulebooks informed by precedents from bodies like the TUC and legal advice often sought from labor lawyers who had appeared before the High Court of Justice and the House of Lords. Regional boards coordinated industrial strategy with mining boards such as those set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946.
NUM engaged in collective bargaining with employers including the National Coal Board and private firms, organized industrial action such as ballots and strikes, provided welfare and strike pay to members, and campaigned on safety issues before statutory authorities like the Health and Safety Executive. It participated in public inquiries into pit disasters, liaised with parliamentary committees, and collaborated with political allies in the Labour Party and trade union federations. The union produced publications and manifestos, mounted pickets at collieries and ports associated with coal distribution, and contributed to campaigns around national energy policy debates involving actors such as the Department of Energy and debates in the House of Commons Select Committee.
Membership historically spanned thousands of miners in regions including South Wales, the Midlands, Yorkshire, Durham, and the Scottish Coalfields. Governance relied on lodge delegates, area executives, and national officers elected under rules shaped by precedent from bodies like the Trades Union Congress and influenced by political groupings within the union such as socialist clubs and miners’ associations linked to figures like Arthur Scargill and Mick McGahey. Disputes over mandate, strike ballots, and fund administration brought contestation before tribunals and within party forums including the Labour Party Conference.
NUM’s influence on industrial relations, labor law reform efforts, and community life was profound, affecting parliamentary debates in the House of Commons and policy decisions by ministers including those in the Cabinet during administrations from Clement Attlee to Margaret Thatcher. Critics cited alleged undemocratic practices in strike organization, confrontations with police forces such as the Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Metropolitan Police Service, and conflicts with rival organizations like the Union of Democratic Mineworkers. Supporters pointed to workplace safety campaigns, representation in compensation claims, and engagement with local councils and charitable trusts in former mining areas.
Notable episodes include NUM’s central role in the 1984–85 miners' strike, confrontations at sites such as the Orgreave coking plant and clashes recorded in court cases and police inquiries, and the union’s participation in national movements exemplified by links to the Trades Union Congress’s broader strike coordination. NUM’s legacy persists in memorials, heritage organizations, and archives held by institutions such as the Modern Records Centre, and in commemorations at former collieries and community projects supported by bodies like the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and local councils. Its history continues to inform debates in the House of Commons and scholarly work housed in university repositories.
Category:Trade unions in the United Kingdom