Ken is someone you can trust

THERE is soon to be a ballot held by the mine workers’ pension scheme, for the central England, southern England and South Wales areas.

All members including widows of ex-miners who receive a mineworker’s pension are eligible to vote.

Ballot papers will be sent out this month and the ballot period runs from August 23 until September 20.

One of the candidates standing will be Ken Sullivan of Tredegar.

Ken is an ex-miner and a dedicated champion of the miners’ pension fight. He has worked tirelessly to get the 50/50 surplus split reviewed.

He has taken the paper petition to towns and villages across the South Wales valleys. He has met with local councillors, Assembly Members and Members Of Parliament to persuade them to change this injustice.

He has gained press and TV coverage for the mine workers’ pension fund.

He has not let you down, so when the time comes please give him your support.

Ken Sullivan is 65 years old, married for 42 years, he has two sons and five grandchildren. Ken started work in Oakdale Colliery in 1967 as a face worker and later as a leading hand in underground development.

He was a member of the Oakdale Colliery rescue team for 11 years. He was also the vice chairman of the Oakdale Lodge, and an executive member of the South Wales Area of the National Union of Mine Workers.

He left the mining industry in 1989 with the closure of Oakdale Colliery and worked in a local factory.

When the factory was announced to close Ken and the workforce took the factory over and ran it as a cooperative. Ken became the chairman of the board. Later he set up his own business which was a success until he retired, he then passed the ownership over to his sons.

An indication of Ken Sullivan’s commitment to anything he gets involved in is illustrated when he was on his honeymoon in 1975 – he received a telephone call informing him of an underground fire in Marine Colliery, Ebbw Vale.

Ken did not hesitate to respond to the call for help and made his way to Marine Colliery, where he spent 14 days underground with the Oakdale rescue team until the fire was extinguished.

That is commitment beyond the call of duty, and that is the commitment Ken will give the miners’ pension scheme if elected.

Vote for Ken Sullivan as a trustee you can trust and depend on.