Protest assault on British miner
By Paul Mailhot
SHEFFIELD — On August 6 Paul Galloway, 33, a long-time member of the National Union of Mineworkers, was assaulted at the Thoresby Colliery near Edwinstrowe in Nottinghamshire, where he has worked for more than 15 years.
As Galloway left the mine that night, a group of workers followed him. The seven or eight miners who participated in the attack were primarily members of the Union of Democratic Miners, although at least two of the attackers were members of the NUM.
The thugs pinned Galloway down to the floor of the car and cut off all his clothes. They poured semi-frozen lemon soda all over him and greased his body with barrier cream. Several yanked at his genitals, causing extreme pain, and then one shoved his finger up his anus.
The next day this attacker tried to provoke a fight, calling Galloway "you NUM little bastard" and shoving him.
Workers at the Thoresby pit are divided. About 175 miners belong to the National Union of Mineworkers. Most of the remaining 825 belong to the Union of Democratic Miners. A significant number are non-union.
The division dates back to the 1984-85 national strike. The pits in this area are among British Coal's most productive mines. Miners earn substantially more wages than workers in other areas. Certain leaders of the NUM in Nottinghamshire area sided with British Coal against the strike and organised the UDM.
Galloway has been a tireless campaigner for the NUM. His views and activities in support of miners at the Thoresby pit have made him a particular target of management and those miners who identify their interests with those of the company.
Supporters of Galloway are asking that messages be sent to the leadership of the UDM and NUM branches at the mime demanding that the actions of the thugs who assaulted Galloway be publicly condemned. Protests should be addressed to: UDM Office, British Coal, Thoresby Colliery, Nottinghamshire, England NG 21 9PS, and to: NUM, c/- Keith Stanley, 24 Samson St, Kirkby in Ashfield, Mansfield,
Nottinghamshire, England NG 17 9HT. Please send copies of messages to: Paul Galloway, c/- Pathfinder Books, 1 Gower St, Sheffield, England S4 7HA.
[From the US Militant.]