Arthur Scargill Quotes

Powerful Arthur Scargill for Daily Growth

About Arthur Scargill

Arthur Scargill (born February 3, 1938) is a British trade union leader and politician, best known as the President of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) during the 1984-1985 UK miners' strike. Born in Aston by Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, Scargill grew up in a working-class family with strong socialist leanings. His father was a coal miner and Labour Party activist, and his mother worked in a local mill. Scargill joined the NUM as a checkweighman in 1958 and quickly rose through the ranks due to his dedication and oratory skills. In 1972, he became an assistant general secretary and, in 1977, was elected the youngest ever General Secretary of the NUM. Under Scargill's leadership, the NUM took a more militant stance, advocating for miners' rights and challenging the power of the coal-producing companies and the Conservative government. This led to the massive 1984-1985 miners' strike, which lasted a year and caused widespread industrial action across the UK. Although the strike ultimately failed, it is seen as a defining moment in British labor history. Scargill also played a role in politics, serving as a Member of Parliament for the Socialist Labour Party from 1997 to 2001. He has been controversial and divisive, with critics accusing him of being too confrontational and autocratic, while supporters praise his courage and commitment to working-class causes. Quotes by Arthur Scargill often reflect his strong beliefs and fighting spirit: "The trade union movement is the only force capable of standing up to big business and the powerful in our society," and "I would rather be a free man in a land of poverty than a rich man in a land of tyranny." Despite the controversies surrounding him, Scargill's impact on British labor history and his role in the miners' strike make him a significant figure in modern UK politics.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The National Union of Mineworkers is not a trade union, it's a social force."

In this quote, Arthur Scargill suggests that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) was more than just a traditional trade union focused on labor issues and collective bargaining. Instead, he viewed it as a powerful societal entity with significant influence beyond the workplace. This "social force" refers to the union's ability to mobilize and effect change within the broader community, reflecting its impact on the social, political, and economic climate of the time. This interpretation emphasizes the transformative potential of organized labor when it transcends its traditional roles and functions as a catalyst for societal transformation.

"We will be judged not by how we live but by what we do with what we have taken while we lived."

This quote by Arthur Scargill suggests that one's ultimate judgment in life is not based on personal conduct or moral living, but rather on the impact of one's actions during their lifetime, particularly concerning the resources they were given. It implies that the legacy we leave behind comes from how we use our talents, opportunities, and possessions, rather than simply how we behave. Essentially, it emphasizes the importance of making a meaningful difference in the world with what we have been given.

"If we can stand up to the coal and steel barons, we can certainly face the supermarket trolley pushers."

This quote by Arthur Scargill emphasizes resilience and determination in the face of adversity. He is suggesting that if workers could successfully resist powerful figures like coal and steel barons (representatives of heavy industries), they can also stand firm against contemporary challenges, even those seemingly less daunting such as supermarket employees (symbolizing large corporations). The message conveys that past struggles provide a foundation for tackling future battles, implying that the working class has the strength to overcome various economic and social obstacles.

"When the miners strike, they do so for all of us."

Arthur Scargill's quote emphasizes solidarity and collective action, suggesting that when a particular group (in this case, miners) undertakes a significant struggle or strike, their efforts extend beyond themselves and affect the broader society as a whole. In essence, he is asserting that workers fighting for better conditions or fair treatment are not just acting in their own self-interest, but for the benefit of all members within the community, as their success can positively impact everyone's quality of life.

"It's not about the price of coal, it's about the whole system."

The quote by Arthur Scargill suggests that the focus should be on addressing the broader systems, structures, or principles at play, rather than solely focusing on specific elements such as the price of coal. In this context, he might be implying that the issue is not just about the economic value of coal but about the entire socio-economic and environmental system in which the coal industry operates. This could encompass considerations like labor practices, safety standards, energy policies, environmental regulations, and societal impacts, among others.

You may see the emergence of a new political party from the body of the trade union movement which represents a very clear-cut socialist alternative policy and which gives expression to the views of the trade union movement in parliament.

- Arthur Scargill

Body, Political, Very, Emergence

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

- Arthur Scargill

Underestimate, Trade, Other, Indeed

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

Labour Party, Britain, Applaud

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

Need, Associations, Wide, Marches

Contrast that with the call of the Liberal Democrats in April, when they were prepared to call upon the British people to participate in a 24-hour strike. It shows how far to the right the Labour Party's gone.

- Arthur Scargill

How Far, Liberal Democrats, British People

If you've got an industry where you've got massive investment, it doesn't matter whether you bring in alternative supplies. You still lose the money on that industry.

- Arthur Scargill

Lose, Bring, Still, Supplies

The trade unions and the Labour Party... failed miserably. Instead of giving concrete support, and calling upon workers to take industrial action, they did nothing.

- Arthur Scargill

Concrete, Labour Party, Calling

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

- Arthur Scargill

Strength, Size, Feeling, Determined

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

Change, Opportunity, Had, Workers

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