The leader of the 1984-1985 British miners' strike Mr Arthur Scargill warned trade unionists in Dublin last night of pay deals "which involve getting into bed with the employer".
Speaking at a public meeting at Liberty Hall, Mr Scargill said it would be unfair to start telling people in another country what should be done on industrial relations. However, he said, his position was clear on social partnership agreements. "I have opposed collaboration all my life and I will continue to."
Mr Scargill received a standing ovation at the meeting, which was organised by the Dublin Council of Trade Unions (DCTU) to mark the 20th anniversary of the miners' strike.
More than 300 people attended, including many senior trade unionists.
In a 90-minute address, Mr Scargill spoke passionately about his involvement with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), and thanked his "comrades" in Ireland and elsewhere who supported the union during the strike.
"The Irish trade union movement in our hour of need was magnificent."
He noted that the DCTU's Mr Des Bonass and other trade unionists gave the NUM practical support by helping to move funds to Ireland when the British courts froze the assets of the miners' union.
In contrast, the British trade union leadership and British Labour Party were accused of "betraying" the miners.
He said the practices of the Tories were "no different from the Nazis in the second World War" in that they were intent on destroying the NUM by any means necessary. The people who lived under fascism and fought against Hitler in Germany were right to defy the law and "we were right to defy the law against us because it was unfair and wrong".
Saying the strike was a failure "is tantamount to saying Jesus Christ lost when he was crucified 2005 years ago," he said.
"The greatest victory was the struggle itself."
