Dutch, French Unions Support NUM

Syndicalism has always prided itself on its internationalism – an internationalism based on concrete action, not, like the Marxists, on empty rhetoric.

The OVB (Federation of Industrial Organisations), Holland’s syndicalist union federation, were contacted by the Hull branch of the DAM early in the strike asking for solidarity with the miners.

In response we received a phone call telling us an OVB delegation, with 20,000 guilders – about £5,000 – would be coming to Britain to meet the NUM and the DAM.

The Dutch syndicalists talked with Sam Thompson, the NUM vice-president, and met miners on the picket line at Selby and in their social club at Barnsley. The OVB comrades also presented the wives’ support committee members with bouquets of Dutch lilies. They also talked to miners about their union, the OVB: its political independence and revolutionary practice.

Since their return home, the OVB have sent a further donation of £5,000 to the NUM and has organised a tour of Holland for miners. 

Our thanks to the OVB – a fighting union.

When DAM contacted the CNT (French section of the IWA) with news of the miners’ strike, they responded swiftly with messages of solidarity and cash, which we have channelled to needy pits (the money to be spent on food etc). We have received money from all over France, adding up to some £400, with more coming in.

The Paris region local branch have organised a daily broadcast about the miners’ strike which is transmitted by Radio Libertaire, the radio station of the French Anarchist Federation, to about 100,000-150,000 listeners.

The CNT will also be organising a speaking tour through France of striking miners, with help from DAM, and a delegate from the CNT plans to visit Britain to meet members of the NUM and DAM.

We thank the CNT/AIT of France and readers of their paper “Combat Syndicaliste” for their continuing solidarity

Source Hull DAM
From Direct Action 18, (September 1984) https://libcom.org/article/direct-action-18-september-1984