“The Labour woman cared for humanity”
A crucial element in sustaining lengthy industrial disputes is the support available for the families of striking workers. The miners’ strike of 1984/85 saw support originated and coordinated by women’s groups in the coalfield communities, often led by wives of striking miners.
In the 1926 miners’ lock-out too, women provided major support with fund-raising by groups such as the Labour Party’s National Women’s Committee and the Cooperative Women’s Guild.
An Industrial Red Cross vividly describes the meetings, entertainments, social events, sales and more which enabled the miners and their families to survive, a campaign that brought together women in the labour movement and developed solidarity between the striking families and their supporters.

