It's 40 years ago this week since the start of one of the most bitter industrial disputes in British history, and it had a major impact on many workers and families in West Fife.

The Miners' Strike of 1984-85 began on March 6, 1984, with the Dunfermline Press reporting that the call for all-out strike action was in response to the threat of further pit closures.

Throughout the strike, we'll look back at how the dispute was reported in the Press, beginning with the front page story 'Enough is enough, say miners' (March 9, 1984):

Dunfermline Press:

Miners' anger at the prospect of further pit closures erupted this week in a call for all-out strike action from tonight (Friday).

Already incensed about the recent closures of Bogside Mine in West Fife and Polmaise Colliery in Stirlingshire, miners' leaders have said: "Enough is enough."

The industrial action, which seemed almost certain as the Press went to print, was called in response to the National Coal Board's latest announcement of a programme of cuts.

On Tuesday the Coal Board's Chairman, Mr lan MacGregor, said that productivity targets would have to fall from 101 million tonnes to 97 million tonnes - a cut of four million. The Scottish share would be a reduction of 4 million tonnes.

Mir MacGregor admitted the measure would mean the loss of 20,000 jobs in the British coalfield.

The Chairman's statement gave added impact to Arthur Scargill's claim, when be visited Comrie Colliery in Fife earlier this week, that half of Scotland's pits and 50 per cent of the workforce would go within three years.

READ MORE: Dunfermline's Bob Young recalls the miners' strike 40 years on

Mr MacGregor, however, gave no indication of manpower reductions among Scotland's 14.500 miners.

He claimed: "Over-production is draining the industry's strength."

The strike call came following a meeting of the Scottish Area Executive in Edinburgh and the Yorkshire miners have received a similar call.

Scottish NUM officials were travelling to Sheffield yesterday (Thursday) to lobby their National Executive and try to get the strike made official.

Indications from West Fife pits were that the strike call would be heeded even although it could hamper the fight to save Bogside.

The NUM's delegate at Bogside, Mr Jim McCallum, told the Press: "We are still determined to fight the Board all the way on this issue."

Salvage operations at the West Fife mine are presently under way to de-water and de-gas the pit.

"Although the Coal Board term the pit 'unworkable' we are going to continue the fight for the restoration and redevelopment of Bogside."

He admitted: "The talk of production cutbacks will obviously affect our fight, but it will not stop it."

The Coal Board had agreed to discuss the Bogside closure at a special consultative meeting on Tuesday (13th). The meeting would probably have to be postponed if the Scottish miners went on strike, said Mr McCallum.

READ MORE: Comrie picket marks 40th anniversary of National Miners' Strike

Comrie's NUM delegate, Mr Jim Meikle, also expects his members to obey a strike call.

He said: "The strike is a campaign against closures. The proposed, cutbacks will undoubtedly affect Comrie and the Scottish area as a whole. I listened to MacGregor's speech, and be did not identify whether the cutbacks will be in the production of household coal or power station coal.

"As long as we are producing household coal there is a market for it."

The possibility of Scotland' miners coming out on strike was very much on the minds of Dunfermline District Councillors on Wednesday.

SNP Councillor Joe Paterson said he considered a strike in the Scottish coalfield inevitable, and asked the District Council to hold a discussion on the matter.

Councillor Paterson added that he hoped the Council would not resort to legal action if any miner incurred rent arrears during a strike.

Councillor Robert Dow said the family of someone on strike could now claim Housing Benefit, and he urged anyone in need of advice to contact the nearest Council Area Office, or the Finance Department direct.

  • The NCB's Scottish Area Director, Mr Albert Wheeler said the 3⁄4 million tonnes cutback figure for Scottish fields was equivalent to "about a pit and a half." He added that a strike could only further damage job prospects and the reputation of the industry. He pointed out that there had been no compulsory redundancies in Scotland, despite six collieries closing in only the last year.

Dunfermline Press, March 9, 1984