THE BIG 'K'

Miners in Yorkshire – 1974
UK 1975 Colour 52 minutes 16mm

A film by Antonia Caccia Simon Louvish
Jeff Parks Alf Bower Peter Cornish Anna Rozen
filmed at Kellingley Colliery February-October 1974

The Big 'K' is Kellingley Colliery in Yorkshire. This film was made during the coal-miners' strike of 1974 and the two General Elections which were held in that year. In the miners' own words, the film tells of the hardships and working conditions of those working in the pits, contrasting die old methods of extracting coal from the face to the present-day mechanisation, with its problems of increased dust.

Through N.U.M. branch meetings, strike committees and talks from the local Labour M.P. as well as interviews with pickets and men in the pit, the film highlights questions which emerge from the miners' strike. How much influence do working people have on their standard of living, on their place in society and on the political system which determines the way they live?
" We are proud to be miners, but this pride should not be misunderstood. It should not be confused with an acceptance of dirty, dangerous work and low wages. We miners reject the old popular image of the miner as a person apart, influenced by harsh, deadly conditions, living in closed communities, to be feared and pitied, capable of hard living in work and pleasure. We have had much public sympathy on this score, and in our struggles we have welcomed it - but we do not intend to live by it.

We intend to change the conditions that have given rise to the truth and halftruths about mining. Miners refuse to accept the values which place the lowest rewards on the dirtiest, most dangerous jobs and the highest rewards on the lightest, most comfortable, least dangerous work. Our fight should also be seen as part of that long continuing struggle of the people to control their own destiny."