Union calls for rally over Orgreave

A LEADING union is pressing for a national demonstration to be held in support of calls for a public inquiry into violent clashes between striking miners and police more than 30 years ago.

The Government has ruled out holding an inquiry into the events at Orgreave in South Yorkshire in June 1984. Scores of miners were charged over the violence, and many were injured, although all charges were later dropped.

The Communication Workers Union has backed the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, which it said should have the full force of the Labour and trade union movement behind it.

Delegates at the union’s conference in Bournemouth called for a national rally and demonstration to be organised by the TUC. Deputy general-secretary Terry Pullinger said miners involved in the strike in the mid-1980s were fighting for the trade union movement.

Attacks on miners at the Battle of Orgreave amounted to “statesponsored violence”, he said.