NCJ Number
100977
Journal
Journal of Law and Society Volume: 12 Issue: 3 Dated: (Winter 1985) Pages: 333-343
Date Published
1985
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The imprisonment of 700 members of the National Union of Mineworkers in Great Britain during the recent coal dispute is part of a long history of the use of the law to restrict the collective bargaining power of workers and to protect employers' power.
Abstract
The imprisonment of workers during their struggles to achieve economic and political goals dates from the early 19th century. During the capitalistic economic restructuring in Great Britain since 1972, unions have often found themselves alone in fighting not only their employers, but also the capitalist State. The economic restructuring and the accompanying restructuring of the state's means of social control show parallels with the events of the 19th century. The imprisonment of the miners is a political issue reflecting the authoritarianism of the advanced capitalist State. The labor movement's failure to campaign on behalf of the prisoners demonstrates the current lack of awareness within the movement. A movement that does not defend its prisoners is a defeated movement, however. 28 reference notes.