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The Union of Democratic Mineworkers is a British trade union not recognised by the TUC or the Labour party for coal miners, which is based in Nottinghamshire, England. It was provisionally established on the 6th December 1985 after the UK miners' strike (1984-1985) by miners who wished to defy the strike call without a national ballot of the National Union of Mineworkers, and its leader, Arthur Scargill. In its defence, the UDM pointed to Scargill's refusal to call a ballot on after the strike ended and to the widespread opposition to the strike which existed in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. Even throughout the majority of the strike, the NUM Nottinghamshire complied with the NUM's overtime ban, as this had been constitutionally called,
Initially, the Nottinghamshire area remained within the NUM. This was possible due to the federal structure of the national union that granted a great deal of autonomy to its regional organisations. NUM elected officers almost exclusively from the "working" miners. These officers included Roy Lynk - later to be rewarded with an OBE - and Neil Greatrex, the current General Secretary of the UDM.
In 1992, The Independent reported that officials from the UDM had advised ministers on how to cut miners' power - including attempting to weaken the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers union.[1]
The UDM was widely criticised in March 2004 after it was revealed that its top two officials received pay and benefits of over £150,000 each, despite membership having fallen to 1,431.[2]
Two leaders of the Mansfield-based UDM union appeared in court on Friday 20th May 2011, accused of stealing almost £150,000 which was intended to help sick miners. Union of Democratic Mineworkers’ former president Neil Greatrex and Mick Stevens, ex-general secretary of the union in Nottinghamshire, denied 14 charges of theft at Nottingham Crown Court. Both were bailed until 17th June 2011.
See http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/udm_leaders_neil_greatrex_and_mick_stevens_deny_charity_thefts_1_3402893
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