Scottish Coal Miners in the Twentieth Century

Brings to light the vital role coal miners played in the social and political history of twentieth century Scotland Throughout the twentieth century Scottish miners resisted deindustrialisation through collective action and by leading the campaign for Home Rule. This book shows that coal miners occupy a central position in Scotland's economic, social and political history. It highlights the role of miners in formulating labour movement demands for political-constitutional reforms that helped create the conditions for the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. The author also uses the experiences of the miners to explore working class wellbeing more broadly throughout the prolonged and politicised period of deindustrialisation that culminated in the Thatcherite assault of the 1980s. Key Features - Analyses longer history of Scottish coal miners in terms of changing industrial ownership, production techniques, workplace safety - Examines deindustrialisation as long-running, phased and politicised process - Uses generational analysis to explain economic and political change - Relates Scottish Home Rule to long-running debates about economic security and working class welfare - Relates this economic and industrial history to changes in mining communities and gender relations Jim Phillips is Senior Lecturer in Economic & Social History at the University of Glasgow.