Why the 1984 miners’ strike began and how it ended

The 1984 miners’ strike in the United Kingdom was a significant event in the country’s history. The strike began on 6th March 1984 when the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) called for a national strike in response to the government’s plans to close 20 coal mines, which would result in the loss of thousands of jobs in the mining industry.

The miners were protesting against the Conservative government led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who was determined to break the power of the trade unions and implement economic reforms. The strike lasted for almost a year and was marked by violent clashes between striking miners and police officers, as well as widespread disruption to the country’s coal supply and energy production.

Despite the efforts of the miners and their supporters, the strike eventually ended on 3rd March 1985, with the miners returning to work without achieving their objectives. The government’s tough stance and the lack of unity within the NUM led to the failure of the strike, and many miners were left unemployed as a result of the closures that followed.

The 1984 miners’ strike remains a controversial and divisive event in British history, with lasting implications for the mining industry and the wider labor movement. It serves as a reminder of the power struggles between workers and government, and the impact of industrial action on society as a whole.