This year’s David Jones / Joe Green memorial tomorrow is going ahead. Whilst we would like to see as many people attend as possible it is understandable if those with underlying health problems or those who have flu like symptoms do not attend. Looking after your own health and being considerate to the health of others is not being disrespectful to the memory of David Jones and Joe Green, it is the responsible thing to do.

Following the DEFRA consultation last year the UK Government has today announced a ban on the burning of domestic coal and wet wood. Sales of bagged traditional house coal will be phased out by February 2021, and the sale of loose coal direct to customers will end by 2023. Whilst this will effect concessioners who still burn house coal in does not apply to smokeless fuels which can continue to be burnt.

The NUM has requested a meeting with the Head of the Coal Liabilities Unit and Director’s Office to discuss this decision as we have concerns as to what the effect will be on the price and therefore amount of future smokeless fuel allowances. The NUM’s view is that we should revisit the amounts paid for cash-in-lieu and possible grant to assist concessioners with the cost of converting to alternative fuels.

Following NUM NEC meeting 14 January 2020 backing was given for Angela Rayner to become Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Lisa Nandy to be become leader of the Labour Party. The gender of the candidates was not an issue. All candidates were considered to be suitable. The need to win back support for the Labour Party from former mining communities was a consideration and both nominations are on the ‘coalface’ so to speak. We need to work hard to win the next General Election and the work starts now and whoever is elected as Leader and Deputy Leader will have the support of the National Union of Mineworkers.

Press reports:

New Statesman

Yorkshire Post

Following NUM NEC meeting 14 January 2020 backing was given for Angela Rayner to become Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Lisa Nandy to be become leader of the Labour Party. The gender of the candidates was not an issue. All candidates were considered to be suitable. The need to win back support for the Labour Party from former mining communities was a consideration and both nominations are on the ‘coalface’ so to speak. We need to work hard to win the next General Election and the work starts now and whoever is elected as Leader and Deputy Leader will have the support of the National Union of Mineworkers.

Press reports:

New Statesman

Yorkshire Post

The NEU has set up a website to show the comparison between the Labour Party and Tory Party manifesto pledges on education for every school in England. To see how the result of the General Election will affect the school that your children/grandchildren attend please follow the link:
https://schoolcuts.org.uk/

We have recently been contacted by a couple of former members who wanted to know if they could claim benefit for pneumo even though they did not have ten years’ service in the mining industry. Further enquiries reveal that there may be many others who believe it is necessary to have ten years’ service to make a claim, this is incorrect. In fact there is no requirement to demonstrate any minimum length of service. Pneumoconiosis, which includes silicosis and asbestosis is a Prescribed Disease known as PD D1 and anyone suffering from this disease who has worked at a coal-mine, underground or on the surface, is entitled to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement benefit from DWP regardless of the length of their service. If you worked at the pit and you have been told you have this disease you should make a claim either online or through the local office of Job Centre Plus.

Statutory Instrument 2019 No. 1241 was laid before Parliament in September 2019 and will come into force 9 December 2019 when A15 Dupuytren’s contracture is added to the list of Prescribed Industrial Injuries.

The prescription below is what you would need to be able to comply with in order to put in a claim through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).