History

The year-long Miners' Strike was a pivotal point in British and Scottish history. The strike in Scotland began at Polmaise Colliery on 6 March 1984 and soon spread to pits in Fife, Ayrshire and Lothian.

The National strike officially began on 9 March 1984 following a decision by the National Union of Mineworkers executive to give official support to local protests against National Coal Board (NCB) plans to close pits. Within a week two-thirds of the coal miners in Britain were on strike.

The strike was one of the longest and most bitter in the history of British industrial relations. Almost a year later, on 3 March 1985, miners voted 98 to 91 to end the strike without reaching agreement with the NCB over pit closures. The strike officially ended on 5 March 1984 after a year of violence, bitterness and despair.

Tell us how the strike affected you. Were you, your family or community involved in the strike? Share your stories and images with us.