Lost wages average £4,543 - NCB claims
September, 1984As the miners' strike enters its 26th week the National Coal Board claimed yesterday that the dispute overall has cost miners an average of £4,543 in lost wages (Glenn Allan writes).
"With average wages of £165 a week, the 25 weeks' stoppage has cost each miner £4,125", a coal board spokesman said.
"But it must be remembered that the strike was preceded by a 19-week overtime ban, so the overall loss of earnings for the average worker now amounts to £4,543".
The cost to the board in terms of lost sales has been calculated at about £500m, but there was also an incalculable extra cost in terms of lost confidence by customers, which could affect future sales, and which could be evaluated only when the industry was back operation.
Last night, Mr Michael McGahey, the National Union of Mineworkers' vice-president, refused to comment on the board's estimates.
Ten stipendiary magistrates are to be moved into Yorkshire and Derbyshire coalfields to deal with a backlog of cases arising from this dispute.
Damage estimated at more than £250,000 was caused when a bulldozer was driven into the wages office at Thurcroft colliery, near Rotherham, early yesterday.
Albert Hirst and Son, makers of world-famous black puddings, has been forced to close because of the strike. The firm, based in Barnsley, has gone into liquidation.
