Durham Miners' Association

We are proud to announce that Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party will address this year's Durham Miners' Gala on Saturday, 8th July. 

Jeremy has spoken at the Gala on numerous occasions over the years as a backbench MP, a Labour leadership candidate and as Labour Leader. This summer we hope he will address the Gala as Labour Prime Minister. 

We are delighted to announce that the acclaimed film director and activist Ken Loach will speak at this year's Durham Miners' Gala on Saturday, 8th July.

Photo: Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn addressing the 132nd Durham Miners' Gala, July 2016.

On 8th June we have an opportunity to vote this appalling Tory government out of office.

This is a government that has caused untold damage to this country. Their austerity programme has not only failed in its own terms, but has created a crisis in our NHS, in social care and in education. Poverty pay and benefit sanctions have led to the disgraceful rise of food banks and clothing banks. Through their deliberate destruction of our social security system, the Tories have persecuted the sick and disabled.

Pictured: DMA executive committee members join the march in solidarity with Durham TAs.

On Saturday 25th March, members of the Durham Miners' Association executive committee were very proud to join the County Durham Teaching Assistants on their solidarity march and to host their rally at the Miners' Hall.

Pictured left to right: Barry Chambers, Lawrence Claughan, Alan Cummings, George Robson 

Yesterday, members of the Durham Miners' Association executive committee joined ex-miners from across the UK, senior Labour MPs and trade unionists on a lively demonstration to demand an inquiry into the events at Orgreave in 1984.

Durham miners paid tribute to John Cummings MP who died yesterday after a long fight against cancer.

John represented Easington from 1987 until 2010.

He was elected with one of the highest majorities of 24,639 and went on to serve the constituency through some of its most turbulent times.

John was an NUM-sponsored MP and was well known for always being available to help union members and the people of Easington.

This year, the sudden and untimely death of Dave Hopper, our general secretary for 31 years, was a huge and tragic shock. 

His contribution to the welfare and wellbeing of the Durham miners was enormous and he will be universally missed. The 800 mourners at his funeral are manifest testimony to how he was respected and revered throughout Durham and the wider trade union and labour movement. 

Whatever the difficulties may be, we can assure you that we will continue his work defending our members. 

Alan Cummings, Durham Miners' Association

The spirit of Scrooge lives on in the corridors of power as injured miners are refused vital benefit payments.

Two former Wearmouth miners - made paraplegic in an underground accident - have been forced them to reapply for their entitlement by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) .

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Derek Graham who died of the miners’ disease, pneumoconiosis, on Saturday 10th December.

Derek or ‘Deka’, as he was known to his friends, started work at Bearpark colliery and later moved to Dawdon colliery before taking up employment in a private licensed mine just prior to the Miners Strike in 1984/85. 

At the beginning of the strike he refused to cross picket lines and withdrew his labour in support of his fellow miners in the nationalised industry who were fighting for their jobs and communities. For this Derek was sacked.