NACODS ballot box

NACODS (National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers) trade union ballot box, Agecroft branch, 1980-1990.

Ballot box used by the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers (NACODS), an independent trade union representing workers in the mining industry. This box was probably used in the miner's strike of 1984-85. In 1984 the National Coal Board (NCB) announced plans to close twenty coal mines, with the loss of 20,000 jobs. Industrial action was planned amongst many miners, but NACODS took the decision not to strike. The NACODS engineers felt that striking would work against their cause as any lack of maintenance below ground would allow pits to deteriorate to a point where they could not be re-opened. This led to tension between miners and deputies during a time of great unrest for the British coal industry.