But officials in the miners union said those citations were often for minor matters and small amounts of money.

"What they did is a source of pride and inspiration to our families," Cecil Roberts, president of the miners union, said recently.

Unions have become weaker since Thatcher destroyed the miners union.

The lockout failed to break the resolve or organisation of the miners union.

Here in the state, the coal industry, the miners union and virtually all government officials have attacked the court ruling as economically ruinous.

Ed Boyce quit the miners union to manage a hotel in Portland.

The court agreed to drop the $12 million owed to the companies, but refused to spare the miners union the other $52 million.

"The camp disappeared totally," said Jesus Mantilla, general secretary of the local miners union, who had been in radio contact with the town.

The miners union helped the families out, and a memorial to commemorate the men that had died was erected.

The miners union of North America had won the right for better working conditions.