Arthur Scargill Quotes

A collection of quotes by Arthur Scargill.

Arthur Scargill is a British trade unionist and political activist who was born on January 11, 1938, in Worsbrough, Yorkshire, England. Scargill rose to prominence as the leader of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) during the 1984-1985 miners' strike, which was a significant and highly contentious event in British industrial history.

Scargill joined the NUM in 1957 and quickly became involved in union activities. He held various positions within the union, including president of the Yorkshire Area NUM. However, it was during the bitter miners' strike of the 1980s that Scargill became widely known. The strike, which lasted for a year, was a fierce battle between the miners' union and the Conservative government led by Margaret Thatcher, who aimed to weaken the power of the trade unions.

While the outcome of the strike was ultimately a defeat for the miners, Scargill's uncompromising stance and fiery rhetoric made him a divisive figure. His leadership during the strike solidified his reputation as a left-wing radical and a staunch defender of the rights and welfare of British workers.

Post-strike, Scargill faced criticism from some within the labor movement for his tactics and approach. Nevertheless, he remains an influential figure on the political left and continues to speak out on issues of workers' rights and social justice, particularly in relation to mining communities.

The labour movement had the best opportunity in 50 years to

The labour movement had the best opportunity in 50 years to transform not merely an industrial situation and win an important battle for workers in struggle, but an opportunity to change the government of the day.

Arthur Scargill


There's a feeling that strength is determined by the size of

There's a feeling that strength is determined by the size of a union. That clearly is nonsense.

Arthur Scargill

Strength

The trouble with the Labour Party leadership and the trade u

The trouble with the Labour Party leadership and the trade union leadership, they're quite willing to applaud millions on the streets of the Philippines or in Eastern Europe, without understanding the need to also produce millions of people on the streets of Britain.

Arthur Scargill

Leadership

All too often miners, and indeed other trade unionists, unde

All too often miners, and indeed other trade unionists, underestimate the economic strength they have.

Arthur Scargill

Strength

Yet what you need is not marches, demonstrations, rallies or

Yet what you need is not marches, demonstrations, rallies or wide associations, all of them are important. What you need is direct action. The sooner people understand that, the sooner we'll begin to change things.

Arthur Scargill

Change