miners - more pensions won back
WORKERS, JULY 2003 ISSUE
A further 150 miners sacked by British Coal during the 1984-1985 miners' strike are to receive their pensions. This is a great achievement for the NUM and its unceasing campaign to ensure justice for these men. Over 1,000 miners were sacked during the dispute - all denied jobs and re-employment.
On average £20,000 in denied pension payments will be forthcoming, nearly 20 years after the strike ended. There are an estimated further 200 miners who still have to have their cases re-opened. This ignores those who have died since the strike.
Miners want a further review of the privatisation deal, which currently allows the government to skim off 50% of miners' pension fund surpluses, netting £4 - 6 billion.