Original sentence: Police tactics during the strike concerned civil libertarians, but images of crowds of militant miners using violence to prevent other miners from working swung public opinion against the strike.Several unions launched strikes that were wholly or partly aimed at damaging her politically.Thatcher had made preparations long in advance for an NUM strike by building up coal stocks, and there were no cuts in electricity supply, unlike 1972.The Conservative government then went on to close all but 15 pits, before privatisation in 1994.The most significant of these was carried out, in 1984-85,  by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM)
Edited sentence: A group of workers, resigned to the impending failure of the actions and worn down by months of protests, began to defy the Union's rulings, starting splinter groups and advising workers that return to work was the only option remaining: the battle had already been lost.Mounting desperation and poverty of the striking families - who went without any income at all whilst committed to the strike - led to divisions being formed within the Unions.Police tactics during the strikes greatly concerned civil libertarians, but the  generally ignored that and instead focused upon images of crowds of militant miners using violence to prevent other miners from working.Private companies since then have acquired licences to open new pits and open-cast sites, with the majority of the original mines being being destroyed and the land redeveloped.Public support for the strikes began to diminish as time went on, and more and more calls were made to end the dispute.Several unions launched strikes in defence of their rights to represent workers and safeguard jobs, but the actions were discredited, downgraded and re-interpreted variously; typically being described as little more personal attacks on Thatcher.Thatcher had made preparations long in advance for an NUM strike by building up coal stocks, and there were no cuts in electricity supply, unlike during the industrial disputes of 1972.The Conservative government then went on to close all but 15 pits: these remaining 15 then being sold off and privatised in 1994.The most significant of these strikes was carried out in 1984-85 by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), in attempts to defend their jobs - and indeed the entire British Coal industry