Right to Strike Campaign Street Stall
The TUC organised a national right to strike rally in Cheltenham on 27 January 2024 against the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023. Members of PTUC decided that rather than travel such a distance we would set up a campaign stall in Peterborough instead. We set up a stall on 27th January when we gave out leaflets on our Right to Strike street stall on St John’s Square in Peterborough City Centre.
AGM 2024
The PTUC AGM was on 1th February and started with guest speaker Jim Jump from the IBMT. Jim spoke for roughly 45 minutes showing delegates and visitors who attended an engaging presentation discussing the role of British trade unionists and international solidarity. With conflict in Gaza and Ukraine and an uncertain year ahead for international relations it was a very apt subject. A discussion followed after the presentation which could have lasted all night!
During the AGM business, the following Executive was elected:
President: Charlotte Davis (NEU)
Vice-President: Lyndsey Roberts (NASUWT)
Secretary: Hazel Perry (UNISON) former President
Assistant Secretary, Neil Gow (Unite), re-elected
Treasurer, Patrick Brooks (UNITE), re-elected
GMB on strike at the ASDA store
On 29 March 2024, delegates from Peterborough Trades Union Council travelled to the nearby Fenland town of Wisbech to support trade unionists from GMB on strike at the ASDA store. As you can see from the photo, there was a large amount of support for the picket line from GMB members, PTUC and Wisbech Trades Council. Many of the passing cars and lorries honked their horn to show their support too.
The workers at the ASDA store walked out over the Easter holiday to protest against cuts in hours and an increase in the bullying culture from Management there. You can find out more here. Members at Wisbech were the employees of the second ASDA store to walk out after overwhelming support for industrial action (Gosport was the first) was secured by ballot.
Peterborough Pride 2024
PTUC delegates were pleased to support Peterborough Pride 2024 on Saturday 8 June. We joined the parade with our banner and had a stall at the event afterwards at the Green Backyard.
James from Peterborough Pride was guest speaker at the PTUC delegate’s meeting in April 2024.
PTUC has supported Peterborough PRIDE since it first started by way of organising supporting events, financial donations and taking our banner out on the PRIDE parade. We have seen the event go from strength to strength and recommend that all local trade unionists add this annual event to their calendar and bring their banners to march alongside us at the parade.
Orgreave Rally 2024
Five PTUC delegates attended the Justice for Orgreave Rally in June in commemoration of the 84/85 Miners Strike which called for a public inquiry into the events that took place in Orgreave in June 84. There was a short march with lots of banners and speakers included people who were key to the events including Arthur Scargill (former President of the NUM) and the solicitor for the arrested pickets, Gareth Pearce. You can read about the campaign here. Later in the week, three PTUC delegates attended a showing of the film Strike: An Uncivil War, a documentary of the events which took place at Orgreave, at the The Luxe in Wisbech arranged in conjunction with Wisbech and March Trades Union Council.
March for a Free Palestine
PTUC is affiliated to Peterborough Palestine Solidarity Campaign so delegates joined the Peterborough march for a free Palestine on 23rd June 2024. Around 2000 people attended the PSC march and rally. There were fewer people starting the march from Rock Park (more commonly known as Millfield Recreation Ground) but plenty joined along the route to Cathedral Square. Speakers were well received and it was a successful event.
Annual commemoration of the International Brigades in London
In 2023, PTUC affiliated to the International Brigades Memorial Trust for the first time. In the 1930s, PTUC was involved in the struggle against Fascism in Spain supporting Aid Spain causes at home and former PTUC delegate, Harold Laws, was killed while fighting against Franco’s Fascists in 1937.
On 6th July 2024, delegates attended an annual Commemoration of the International Brigades – One of our delegates attended the annual commemoration of the International Brigades in Jubilee Gardens on London’s Southbank in June. There were several speakers, including IBMT Chair, Jim Jump, PCS General Secretary, Fran Heathcote and music from the band Na-mara. You can find a full report of the commemoration, here.
Durham Miners Gala 2024
Durham Miners Gala took place on 7th July. Seven delegates from PTUC attended Durham Miners Gala alongside 20,000 other people on a very wet day in July 2024. It was a long day with the contingent taking an early train from Peterborough Railway Station but a good day was had by all.
Beautiful banners celebrating the region’s working class history were carried through the medieval city to the sound of brass band music, at one point passing the Royal County Hotel on Old Elvet. Here, labour movement leaders, invited guests and local dignitaries greeted the march from the hotel balcony and the bands paused to play their “party piece”.
From here, the procession continued along Old Elvet to Durham Racecourse by the River Wear, where banners are strapped around the perimeter fencing creating a colourful tapestry of working class history. Speakers addressed the crowds and visitors could browse the many stalls.
Burston Strike School Rally 2024
The boycott of the Burston Council School in Norfolk between 1914 and 1939 ended up being the longest in British History. Now Burston hosts the biggest annual gathering of trade unionists in East Anglia as it commemorates the strike. With speakers, stalls, music, a beer tent and refreshments all taking place on the Village Green in front of the Strike School museum, the event feels like a cross between a trade union rally and a village fete!
Delegates attended the event on 1st September 2024. Speakers included Steve O’Donnell (UNITE), Dr Patrick Road (NASUWT). Louise Regan (PSC), John McDonnell MP and entertainment came from the RMT brass band, Atilla the Stockbroker and John and Pauline Pearce.
Thr PTUC banner was displayed proudly amongst many others.