The impact of the strikes on trade unions
This massively weakened trade unions and their power. This was because faith in trade unions and the privitisation on the industry lowered their power. This was one of thatcher's main aims as she thought that trade unions had become too powerful. The power of trade unions were shown in the 1970's. "During the 1970s, the industry was hit by two major strikes. In 1972 Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath caved in when the miners went on strike for more pay. When another miners’ strike began in 1974, Mr Heath called a snap general election hoping to rally public support against the miners. But the public vote went against him resulting in victory for the Labour Party" (Museum of Wales, n.d.). After wining both these strikes, the power of the trade unions would have been at a all time high. This is because it gave miners the power to stop work and get better working conditions which decreased the countries energy levels at the same time. However, after the 1984 strikes, this showed a shift in power as miners weren't able to stop production and get their way, this undermined trade unions.
Another reason for this is the fact that the Tory government used more ruthless and strategic tactics to beat the miners. For example, in the 1970's both the strikes had filled a ballot first. This meant that workers would receive benefits such as pay whilst they were on strike. Therefore, more people would be willing to go on strike. However, the government combated this in the 1984 strikes. "The decision in October 1983 to call a national overtime ban over wages-avoiding the need for a strike ballot-could be seen even by sympathetic observers as a manipulative tactic,' anticipating the use of the Presidential authority in April 1984 to rule out of order the call for a national vote" (Hyman, 1986). This was because Arthur Scargill, who was leading the miners strike, didn't bother getting a ballot. Therefore, these miners didn't have benefits other strikers have had in the past, such as pay. This created a divide and some were unwilling to go on strike. These new tactics made it virtually impossible for trade unions to compete and support the miners.

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