Catalogue Number
NMLH.2016.13.86
Object Name
card
Title
'Greetings Xmas '84'
Place
Tredegar
People
National Union of Mineworkers, Santa Claus, Margaret Thatcher
Events
1984-85 Miners' Strike
Date
1984
Description
A blue and white Christmas card from 1984, with collage style cut out images of a police officer beating Santa Claus on the front, and Santa collecting pig poo in a police officer's hat on the back.
The card was created during the 1984-85 Miners' Strike, and sent to the mining families in Tredegar with a message of solidarity. Christmas 1984 was difficult for striking miners and their families, as strikers had no wages coming in, and rules had been introduced to prevent their families claiming support benefits from the government. Oral histories from miners and their wives document feelings of shame and distress that they were not able to afford a tree, traditional Christmas dinner foods, or presents for their children to celebrate Christmas. Strike supporters around the country, and internationally, rallied to send messages of support as well as increased donations of food, toys and monetary aid to the strikers at Christmas.
The 1984-85 Miners' Strike was called when Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government announced mass closures of coal mines in the UK. The National Union of Mineworkers campaigned to keep the pits open, using the slogan 'Coal not dole'. Miners experienced violence from the police when they picketed at their work places, which is referenced in the imagery on the card. The aid provided to strike support funds enabled the strikers to stay on the picket lines for almost a year, but ultimately the strike ended and the pits were closed.
**ON DISPLAY**
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