All too often miners, and indeed other trade unionists

Arthur Scargill, forged in the fires of struggle and born from the ranks of working men, once declared: “All too often miners, and indeed other trade unionists, underestimate the economic strength they have.” In this saying, he did not merely speak of coal or contracts — he spoke of the eternal tension between labor and power, of the hidden might that lies within the hands of the common worker, a might too often unseen even by those who hold it. His words are both reminder and warning: that strength unrecognized is strength wasted, and that the people must learn to see their own power before others strip it away.

The meaning of this truth is vast. The miner, deep beneath the earth, may feel small, cut off from the world above, unseen in the darkness. The factory worker at the line may believe himself replaceable, a cog in an endless machine. Yet Scargill reminds them that they, not their masters, hold the true weight of economic strength. Without their hands, the coal does not rise, the machines do not run, the wealth of nations does not flow. Their power is immense, yet it remains hidden until they recognize it themselves, and wield it together in unity.

The origin of this wisdom lies in the bitter struggles of the miners’ strikes in Britain. Scargill, as leader of the National Union of Mineworkers, witnessed firsthand how governments and corporations sought to break the spirit of workers, to convince them they were powerless, expendable, defeated. Yet he also saw moments when solidarity revealed their true power — when the mines fell silent, when the flow of coal halted, when the machinery of wealth was brought to its knees by the absence of labor. His words emerged from the battlefield of class struggle, where the smallest hands held the largest lever.

History itself confirms this lesson. Recall the story of the Roman plebeians, who, when oppressed by the patricians, withdrew en masse from the city in what became known as the “Secession of the Plebs.” Without their labor, the economy and defense of Rome crumbled, and the patricians were forced to yield concessions. The common men, long dismissed as weak, discovered their strength by withholding their toil. Their unity shook the Republic, just as the unity of miners or workers could shake the foundations of modern states.

The tragedy, however, is that workers often forget this truth. They see only their own smallness, not the collective force that rises when thousands act as one. This is why Scargill laments that they “underestimate” their power. For divided, they remain vulnerable; united, they are unstoppable. The enemy of labor has always known this, which is why division is sown, fear is spread, and the worker is told he is nothing. But history whispers otherwise: he is not nothing — he is the lifeblood of the economy.

The lesson for us is clear: know your worth, and do not underestimate your strength. Whether in a union hall, a workplace, or even a community, recognize that collective action multiplies power. Do not let yourself be deceived into thinking your contribution is small. Reflect instead on the truth that nations rise and fall on the backs of those who labor. Stand with others, lend your voice to theirs, and see how quickly power shifts when the people remember what they are capable of.

Therefore, my children, take Scargill’s wisdom as a call to remembrance. Economic strength lies not in the hands of the few, but in the united will of the many. Do not doubt your power, nor let it lie dormant. For when miners, workers, and all people of labor recognize the might they hold, then justice becomes possible, dignity is defended, and no force on earth can stand against them. The strength is already yours — the task is only to awaken and wield it.