What a day! It was an honour and privilege to be part of such a momentous occasion!
Colin Thomas and Rob Whitfield launched the book 150 Years of Struggle: a history of Bristol Trades Union Council and the whole day with an inspiring recount of the 1926 General Strike, along with humorous anecdotes about research and the attempts to get information for the book. 40 copies were sold at the event, but if you didn’t get your copy, please order from 150 Years of Struggle – Bristol Radical History Group (brh.org.uk)
Our keynote speaker, Eileen Turnbull, was great! The session started with a short film and then she wove in facts, details and personal stories about the Shrewsbury Pickets’ incarceration and, finally, their exoneration! It really highlights the lengths the state will go to to smash unions and destroy activists if we don’t stand together and fight to defend the whole class. All her copies of her book, A Very British Conspiracy, were autographed and sold, such was the passion and inspiration she created; but if you didn’t get your copy, you can get one from A Very British Conspiracy – Verso (versobooks.com)
Our panellists Andy Hudd, ASLEF; Sheila Caffrey, NEU; Martin Cavanagh, PCS and Celine Petitjean, UCU all spoke about the need to build trade union activity and to fight back against the attacks the government and bosses rain down on our pay, pensions, public services and working conditions.
Neil Gore, from Townsend Productions, ended the day on a phenomenal note with his entertaining and thought-provoking performance of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. which sent everyone off on a high! If you didn’t catch the performance, we would thoroughly recommend it, and he’s returning soon to the Alma Tavern in Clifton and The Theatre Shop in Clevedon, so book your tickets!
Bristol Trades Union Council 