SCOTTISH colliers may have to reconsider their allegiance to the
National Union of Mineworkers following a decision by five NUM areas
including Scotland, firmly against full integration into the national
union.
Despite an impasssioned plea from NUM president Mr Arthur Scargill
that ''money means nothing'' and that the very future of the NUM was at
stake, only nine of the 14 NUM areas endorsed the proposed move away
from the present federal structure in favour of a fully integrated one
-- an essential pre-requistite to amalgamation with other unions.
Several years ago Scotland actually proposed the opening of merger
talks with suitable unions but, like a number of other NUM areas,
remains wary of giving up its assets to centralised control.
South Wales, North Wales, Derbyshire, and Leicester are also
resolutely against handing their funds over to Mr Scargill.
It remains to be seen whether the nine other areas, several of which
are known to have similar misgivings, will procede with full
amalgamation.
If they do, and Mr Scargill expressed confidence that the dominant
Yorkshire area would lead the way within weeks, then the five rebel
areas might need to reconsider their position.
Scottish NUM vice president Mr Peter Neilson conceded last night that
there was no way the Scottish area funds would be put under Mr
Scargill's control and that at the end of the day Scottish colliers
might have to consider going their own way. It had not yet reached that
stage, however.
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