Birmingham Trade Unionists Smash Government Pay Freeze

Today I had the honour of taking the Branch Banner to the 40th Anniversary Rally to celebrate the closing of Saltley Gates on 10th February 1972.

In case there are any members of the Tax-Avoiders Alliance reading this, I should say that this was on my day off - as a part-time worker I do these things in my own time.

It was a really moving event with speeches from trade unionists who were there at the time, and especially from Arthur Scargill, still in fine form and as uncompromising as ever.

In 1972 I was still at school and not even in Brum. But I do vividly remember the impact of the strike and the victory for the NUM on us all as trade unionists for decades onwards.

1972. A conservative government in power, with inflation raging tried to introduce pay restraint.

In 1972 the conservative Heath Government was trying to restrain pay increases and was later to introduce a pay freeze. They also sought to restrict trade unions taking industrial action through the Industrial Relations Act passed in the Autumn of 1971. Under this, a National Industrial Relations Board had the power to make strikes illegal and force the acceptance of settlements.

The TUC campaigned against the legislation with a nationwide "Kill the Bill" campaign. On 12 January 1971 the TUC held a 'day of action' in protest, with a march through London. In March, 1,500,000 members of the Amalgamated Engineering Union staged a one day strike. After the bill received royal assent, in September 1971 the TUC voted to require its member unions not to comply with its provisions (including registering as a union under the Act). The TGWU was twice fined for contempt of court over its refusal to comply. However, some smaller unions did comply and 32 were suspended from membership of the TUC at the 1972 congress.

The miners started their first national strike since 1926 on 5 January 1972 over the issue of pay. For a month they picketed power stations, and particularly Saltley Coal Depot in Birmingham. On the 9th February, the Government declared a State of Emergency. A three day week was introduced.

But trade unionists across the country had had enough of these attempts to starve the miners back to work. A call went out to Close The Gates at Saltley and 30,000 Birmingham trades unionists, mostly engineering workers, went on strike. 10,000 marched to Saltley Gates and forced them to close.

Ten days later, the Government backed down and a negotiated settlement was agreed with the NUM. The miners got a fair wage for the first time ever.

So much for history. Those days are long gone.

A Conservative Government freezing pay whilst inflation rises. Legislation to make it harder for trade unions to fight back with industrial action. Mass TUC demonstrations in London. Union members taking united strike action together. Surely that could never happen again !

But as Arthur said in 1972 and again today : Birmingham trade union members have demonstrated a great truth that when they unite together, nothing can stand in their way.


Graeme Horn
Joint Branch Secretary