Thanks to every member who came to the Silk Mill Festival on Saturday! We all had a great time, and it is becoming a real fixture of the trades union calendar.
If you haven't been to the Silk Mill Festival, it commemorates the struggles of workers in Derby during the world's first industrial strike - the Silk Mill Lock-Out of 1833-4, which resulted in a general strike in Derby. As mentioned previously, we have produced lesson resources to support teaching about this world-important local event (link here).
More than being a simple memorial though, when trades unionists from across the city get together we share our current struggles, such as the ongoing ballot by the PCS union which looks set to smash the barriers imposed by the government's recent anti-Trade Union law, much as the CWU did last year; and the struggles facing Unite workers at both Rolls-Royce and Bombardier, both of whose management are threatening redundancies.
For us it is a great opportunity to spread the word about our campaigns - particularly the ongoing school funding crisis and the threat to reintroduce the damaging and pointless Baseline Assessment in primary schools. We were also pleased to be working alongside Derby Stand Up To Racism at a time when the threat from the racist right is at its greatest for many years, following the attacks on mosques and gurdwaras in Leeds after a pro-Tommy Robinson demonstration and the disturbingly large racist demonstration in London in the week following. It is vitally important that trades unionists everywhere support the anti-racist movement at this time and we in the NEU are proud to be part of this.
But perhaps most importantly it is an opportunity to celebrate - this is a day aimed at workers across the city and their families, and a great chance to combine politics, trades unionism, family entertainment and music. We were once again led on our march by the fantastic Derby Bangra Band, who bring so much infectious energy to the day. The pictures below should give you a flavour of the day!
Thanks to every member who came, and hope to see more of you next year!
Our next event is the Big Weekend on 13th and 14th July - CPD, training, social and more! Make sure you book your place: email kieran.picken@neu.org.uk
If you haven't been to the Silk Mill Festival, it commemorates the struggles of workers in Derby during the world's first industrial strike - the Silk Mill Lock-Out of 1833-4, which resulted in a general strike in Derby. As mentioned previously, we have produced lesson resources to support teaching about this world-important local event (link here).
More than being a simple memorial though, when trades unionists from across the city get together we share our current struggles, such as the ongoing ballot by the PCS union which looks set to smash the barriers imposed by the government's recent anti-Trade Union law, much as the CWU did last year; and the struggles facing Unite workers at both Rolls-Royce and Bombardier, both of whose management are threatening redundancies.
For us it is a great opportunity to spread the word about our campaigns - particularly the ongoing school funding crisis and the threat to reintroduce the damaging and pointless Baseline Assessment in primary schools. We were also pleased to be working alongside Derby Stand Up To Racism at a time when the threat from the racist right is at its greatest for many years, following the attacks on mosques and gurdwaras in Leeds after a pro-Tommy Robinson demonstration and the disturbingly large racist demonstration in London in the week following. It is vitally important that trades unionists everywhere support the anti-racist movement at this time and we in the NEU are proud to be part of this.
But perhaps most importantly it is an opportunity to celebrate - this is a day aimed at workers across the city and their families, and a great chance to combine politics, trades unionism, family entertainment and music. We were once again led on our march by the fantastic Derby Bangra Band, who bring so much infectious energy to the day. The pictures below should give you a flavour of the day!
Thanks to every member who came, and hope to see more of you next year!
Our next event is the Big Weekend on 13th and 14th July - CPD, training, social and more! Make sure you book your place: email kieran.picken@neu.org.uk
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