Centrica plc the company which owns British Gas announced that electricity prices will rise by 12.5% from mid September 2017. “The 12.5% electricity price rise this September reflects the increasing costs of energy policy, and delivery to customers’ homes since 2014. In that time, overall electricity costs have increased by 16%.”

The news comes just six weeks after the government wrote to OFGEM reminding them of what was said in the Conservative manifesto and in the Queen’s Speech “My Government will ensure fairer markets for consumers. This will include bringing forward measures to help tackle unfair practices in the energy market to help reduce energy bills.” Read letter

British Gas is the last of the ‘big six’ energy firms to increase prices. Energy prices are already rising more quickly than the average salary, and many people are struggling to pay bills as it is.

Centrica say the increase reflects the increasing costs of energy policy and who is responsible for energy policy?

The outlook for electricity prices isn’t great and electricity prices will no doubt increase again with coal fired power stations closing and more expensive forms of generation replacing them.

West Cumbria Mining (WCM) are delighted to report that the Planning Application for their Cumbrian Metallurgical Coal Project, called Woodhouse Colliery, was submitted to Cumbria County Council (CCC) on 31^st May 2017.

The planning application documents, which include the Environmental Impact Assessment and extensive details of the project designs, were hand-delivered to the CCC offices in Kendal by Caroline Leatherdale, Head of Environment and Planning and Kevin Murphy, Head of Project Delivery.

The planning application has subsequently been validated by CCC and allocated the reference number 4/17/9007.

If you wish to express support for, or concerns about, the Project, these can be submitted to CCC by mail, email or online. It is important that these are submitted by the 10^th July 2017 for opinions to be considered by CCC.  Details on how to do this can be found on our website http://www.westcumbriamining.com/local-news/wcm-planning-application-validated-open-comment/.  Formal notices have been hand-delivered to neighbours of the site whilst planning notices are being displayed in the Marchon and Pow Beck locations.

A full copy of the planning application is available to view on the CCC planning website, or at WCM’s Haig offices up until the 10^th July 2017. A full copy of the planning documents can also be obtained on a memory stick or CD from the WCM Haig office for £5.

WCM will be hosting public update events on the 23^rd, 24^th and 25^th June (10am-4pm) at their Haig offices, where full details of the planning application will be presented and the WCM team will be available to answer any questions you may have.

Helen Davies, Communications Manager, commented, “This is a significant milestone for the project and the local area.  We do hope that people will take up the opportunity to voice their support or concern to ensure that the Project progresses in a way which best suits the majority.  We are looking forward to our open days at the end of June and hearing people’s thoughts – they have previously been overwhelmingly positive and we hope that this support is translated into supporting our planning application.”

WCM will also be holding a Suppliers Open Day on the 12^th July from 10am-4pm at the Haig offices, with an open invitation to representatives of local companies who may be interested in future construction and operational contract and supply opportunities to learn more about our procurement process and to meet the project team.

Congratulations to the Labour Party for gaining the support of people which now gives hope that life will improve for the many.

By now most of you will have made up your mind up which way to vote and it goes without saying, the NUM is affiliated to the Labour Party, so you know which Party we support.
Here are 3 reasons why you should consider voting Labour taken from their Manifesto:
• A Labour government will commit to an immediate review of the mineworkers’ pension scheme and British Coal superannuation scheme surplus, sharing arrangements between government and scheme beneficiaries.
• Labour will hold public inquiries into historic injustices. We will open inquiries into Orgreave and blacklisting. We will release all papers relating to the Shrewsbury 24 trials and the 37 Cammell Laird shipyard workers.
• We will set up an inquiry into blacklisting and will urge the Scottish Government to hold an inquiry into the actions of Scottish police during the miners’ strike.

To have these commitments from the Labour Party are reasons alone for all those who worked in the coal mining industry to vote for them and they demonstrate the Labour Party have listened to what the NUM have been saying.
The Conservatives called this election because the opportunist politicians thought they and their friends could board the gravy train for a longer journey and increase their number.
They had the champagne on ice. They took it for granted that they were assured of victory. However during this campaign, they have shown that they do not understand the difficulties faced by the young and the older. They do not understand what it is like for those who are working harder and longer for less and less reward and with no job security.

The Labour Party have run an excellent campaign which has connected with many people and has shown that they have won the support of many of those who the Conservatives took for granted.
For all those who have not voted by post, first and foremost USE YOUR VOTE, and use your vote FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW we urge you to consider giving your vote to LABOUR on 8 June.

National Union of Mineworkers
Chris Kitchen Secretary
Nicky Wilson President
Wayne Thomas Vice-President

The NUM at it’s NEC meeting 23 May 2017 welcomed the news that the Labour Party Manifesto has included a commitment to reviewing the pension sharing arrangements of both the MPS and BCSSS. This is a welcome statement that takes into account all the work done by the NUM and Labour MP’s over the years and it is hoped that any review will result in an increase in pension payments  More information

Kellingley Colliery December 2015

Kellingley Protective Award

The hearing concluded on 18 May 2017 after 4 days of evidence, cross examinations, and closing submissions from John Hendy QC on behalf of the NUM, the barrister for the 1st respondent UK Coal Kellingley in liquidation (who is paying their bill?) and the barrister for the 2nd respondent the Secretary of State.

A favourable decision should cover everyone made redundant from Kellingley since the issuing of the HR1 and section 188 letter on the 1 April 2014. The 1st respondent (although it will not cost them a penny as they are insolvent and don’t have any money) are seeking to limit any payment from a successful outcome to those who were made redundant in December 2015.

The case is subject to a reserved decision and the Tribunal panel will not get together (due to a backlog of cases) until July so a decision is not expected until the end of July/early August.

Mr Mathewson made seven complaints alleging the union had breached its rules and one complaint of the union’s breach of Chapter IV of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. Following correspondence, the Certification Officer struck out all eight complaints under section 256ZA(1)(a) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 on the grounds that they had no reasonable prospect of success and/or were otherwise misconceived. Full decision here: Mathewson

Hatfield Colliery August 2015

The Newcastle Employment Tribunal sitting in North Shields 30 March 2016 heard the NUM Yorkshire Area case for a Protective Award in relation to miners who lost their jobs with the closure of Hatfield Colliery in 2015 and decided that a Protective Award should be given.

The case started in Yorkshire in August 2015 and despite the closure of all mines in Yorkshire the NUM has continued the case to a successful conclusion. Chris Kitchen said that this award could put up to £1.7m back in the pockets of Hatfield men and the NUM would continue to campaign on the many issues still outstanding in relation to the mining industry. The NUM Legal Officer Harry Eyre, who led the case, said that this was a clear breach of section 188 of TULRCA and therefore those who are entitled to the maximum award will be awarded £3,800.

Election Report

Despite the devastation caused by the closure of deep coal mines NUM members increased the majority to retain a Political Fund.

Yvette Cooper MP called on the Government to treat men at Kellingley fairly as they have saved the Government £’millions by continuing to work through a ‘managed closure’ yet they are rewarded by finishing with a redundancy payment which is a third of what men finished on 27 years ago! Click here to read the debate.