On this day in 1972, all the coal miners in Britain went on strike, the first official national miners' strike since 1926. After the Battle of Saltley Gate rendered the last large stockpile of fuel inaccessible in February, workers won their demands.

The dispute arose from pay negotiations. Miners, led by Joe Gormley, initially asked for pay rises of between 35-47%, while the National Coal Board (NCB) was only prepared to offer 7.4%. After the strike began, all 289 coal mines in the country ceased production.

At the beginning of the strike, it was estimated that there were sufficient stockpiles of fuel to supply national requirements for about 8 weeks, however the fuel was unevenly distributed throughout the country. The success of the strike depended on ensuring the scarcity of fuel.

Accordingly, the miners enjoyed solidarity from other industries - engineers ceased working at collieries, train drivers refused to drive trains carrying fuel, and dockworkers refused to unload ships carrying coal.

Under guidelines agreed between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the NCB, and the government, dispensation was given to allow fuel to be transported to "priority consumers", i.e., hospitals, nursing homes, orphanages, and, later, schools.

By February, the last large accessible stockpile of solid fuel in the country was held by a West Midlands Gas Board (WMGB) coke plant in Birmingham, where up to 700 vehicles were collecting fuel each day for in miles-long queues. The WMGB argued that they could stay open because they did not employ miners directly.

Thousands of picketing workers descended on the open coke works, attempting to close it, but were initially repelled by a large police force. Arthur Scargill, a left-wing leader of the strike and NUM member, asked for solidarity from local engineering unions.

With their support, more than 10,000 workers managed to close the depot on February 10th, an event known as "The Battle of Saltley Gate". With the country facing massive power outages, the government conceded to worker demands.

"The victory on the 10 February was a battle between the working class and the government, which the working class won."

- Peter Jackson, of the Birmingham Trades Council