Collection of badges from women’s groups
A collection of nine badges from branches from women’s groups across the coalfields. Listed from top left to bottom right.
North Derbyshire WAG
North Derbyshire Women’s Action Group.
Combined women’s support group badge used for membership and fund raising.
Large amount issued. 24mm round with scroll. Red, black and orange. Gilt.
Lancashire Women Against Pit Closures
The original badge, produced when the group was formed during 1984-5. Another colour scheme of same design was produced in 1992 as a fund raiser when the Parkside Pit Camp was set up to save the colliery. Another colour scheme was used to produce 19 badges for the men at the camp and another colour scheme was used for the 21 badges issued to the women at the camp. Two further badges using pink were produced and each inscribed with the name of the two children born to women at the camp.
Several hundred produced. 33mm x 25mm oval. Green, black, white and red. Gilt.
A useful source of information is here. http://www.wcml.org.uk/contents/protests-politics-and-campaigning-for-change/lancashire-women-against-pit-closures/
Information about Maxine Peake's radio programme about the Parkside Pit Camp can be found here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03g937t
Northumberland WAPC
Northumberland Women Against Pit Closures.
Produced as a fund raiser for the National Justice for Mineworkers Campaign by the Northumberland WAPC.
Several hundred issued. 25mm round. Black and green. Gilt.
Womens’ Support Groups
Joint effort from the South Wales women’s support groups..
Several hundred issued. 29mm round. Gilt
National Women Against Pit Closures
This is the second version of this badge, the first having black where there is now red. Note that this badge reads “Est 1984” in the scroll under the hands. Subsequent designs had the words “Save our pits”.
100 issued31mm x 20mm tablet. Red, green and purple. Gilt.
(A greetings card of the National WAPC banner is also available.)
Women’s Support Group, Scottish Area
This badge was produced as a fund raiser by several of the women’s groups.
Large amounts issued. 25mm round with scroll. Green, white, red and blue. Gilt
Betteshanger Women’s Support Group
Produced in 1985 by the Betteshanger Women’s Support Group as a fundraiser and for identity.
Several hundred issued. 25mm round. Orange, black, red and white. Gilt.
North Yorks WAPC
Designed by Matty Kitchen of Wheldale. This was issued to members and close supporters only. Another colour scheme has a purple “plus” under the rose and was sold as a fundraiser.
Limited edition. 33mm x 26mm oval. Black, green and white. Gilt
Midland Women Against Pit Closures
Produced by the Midland Women Co-ordinating Committee (MWCC) as a fund raiser.
200 produced. 25mm round. Red, black and cream. Gilt.
The Miners’ Strike 1984-85
The Miners’ Strike of 1984/5 was in defence of the coal industry, to protect jobs and communities. By the end of the strike in March 1985, 200 mineworkers served time in prison or custody, 20,000 people had been injured and 966 mineworkers had been sacked by the NCB. Two members of the National Union of Mineworkers were killed on picket lines; David Jones on the 15th March 1984 and Joe Green on the 15th June 1984. Three people died digging for coal during the winter.
National Justice for Mineworkers Campaign
The National Justice for Mineworkers Campaign was formed at the 1985 Labour Conference and was launched at the Albert Hall, London, in October 1986. The objectives of the campaign are to keep the issue of those victimised miners to the forefront of the labour and trade union movement and to raise money to alleviate hardship among the families of the victimised men.
The 966 men were originally sacked for no more than honouring picket lines, defending their jobs and pit communities, their class and the future of their children. Only a small number had been dismissed for offences against the person or damage to property. Many miners subsequently cleared by the courts were not re-instated and neither were many more who successfully won their cases for unfair dismissal at Industrial Tribunals. Many were even blacklisted from getting any work outside the coal industry.
The Justice Campaign is supported by the NUM, Labour Party, TUC conferences and many national & regional unions.
National Justice for Mineworkers Campaign
103 Cliff Road Hornsea HU18 1JB
Email: to be advsied
Web: www.justiceformineworkers.org.uk
Phone: 01964 532954 & 07816 030236
A minimum of 10p of the purchase price of this card is donated to the NJMC.
Enamel badges of the National Union of Mineworkers
Many thanks to Brian Witts for information, advice and access to his collection. Brian produces the definitive book about the enamel badges and a large format poster using images of the badges to illustrate the wreckage caused by the Thatcher government to the mining industry and the mining communities. Contact Past Pixels if you want details.
Image of badge is copyright National Union of Mineworkers.
Photography by Martin Shakeshaft www.strike84.co.uk
