Shafted

Shafted by Jeannie Jordan.

Jack Greatorex, a retired colliery deputy, has never understood why his son, Paul, came out with the other 11 at Cadley Hill colliery in 1984.

The inflamed hotheads trampled all over the NUM’s golden rule, no 41, to ballot the membership before taking any strike; his union, the National Association of Colliery Officials,Deputies and Shot-firers, at least observed those rules and had a vote but then took no notice of the majority and went back to work!

Paul’s return to his estranged father for his mother’s funeral ignites the argument of the past 30 years as they relive those tumultuous 12 months.

Paul did what he though was best to preserve the future of his family, his community, his industry and was damned because of it – and would have equally condemned himself if he had not taken action.