Trouble and Strife
From the collection of
From the collection of
Coalminers' wives are a force to be reckoned with when they pit themselves against the coal board.
All coal mining in Britain was nationalised in 1932, and by 1984 was entirely managed by the National Coal Board. A number of factors led to a strike of mine workers from March 1984 to March 1985, in what has been described as "the most bitter industrial dispute in British history". Given the level of government control over the industry, many strikers felt that this was a fight against the Prime Minister herself. Battle lines were drawn, and miners' wives mobilized to do more than just make the tea.