feature Tolpuddle
BANNERS, BLESSINGS AND BIN STRIKERS
An inspiring Tolpuddle Sunday saw Unite ‘return to its roots’
Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival goers were joined by hundreds of day trippers on the Sunday, as coaches offloaded eager trade unionists at the festival entrance.
The first port of call for many was, unsurprisingly, the Unite Marquee. Unite’s South West team were still recovering from the packed weekend of debates, music and theatre but were looking forward to talking to members and handing out new resources and membership forms, to help them organise at work.
One highlight of this year's festival for Unite was the blessing of the South West region’s new banner.
A group gathered by the grave of Tolpuddle Martyr James Hammett for a short blessing ceremony conducted by Revd Richard Andrew, President of the Methodist Conference.
It was a moving moment of reflection away from the festival hubbub as the Revd Andrew read a prayer from the Iona Community.
Unite member Stéf Kasprowski said, “In the South West region we are very proud of our new banner, which has been designed by our regional committee and represents, not only our
history as a region, but also the lessons that we’ve learnt along the way.
“When we received the request from the Faith Workers' branch to bless the banner we felt it was only right to honour their request. Afterall the blessing of banners is a long-standing tradition in the trade union movement; the miners’ lodges still bless new banners to this day at the Durham Miners’ Gala.
“It was deeply moving to have the blessing by James Hammett's grave as he was the only Martyr who returned to Tolpuddle after his ordeal. It symbolised a return back to our roots, back to the start of our movement.”
Stéf returned to James Hammett’s grave later that morning with farmworker Steve Leniec, Ron Leech from Unite Wales and representatives from the TUC and sister unions to lay wreaths. Prayers and speeches were said and the Red Flag sung.
The main stage opposite the Unite Marquee then took a break from music as speakers addressed the growing crowd.
Many speakers addressed the gathering, but probably none more relevant or passionate than Matt Reid, Unite shop steward and Birmingham bin worker, who has been on strike since March.
Matt gave a powerful speech explaining the ongoing dispute, and how trade union solidarity from across the country was keeping
striking members motivated.
Matt drew links
between today's struggle in Birmingham and farmworkers in Dorset over 190 years ago, saying, “It’s an honour to stand here at the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Rally amongst trade union activists and working class people who know that history doesn’t just live in the past, it lives in our struggles today.
“We are here to remember those six brave men who stood against injustice in 1834, and to remind the world that the spirit of Tolpuddle lives on in 2025.
“Right now that spirit is alive in Birmingham in the depots and on the picket lines in our own fight against injustice.”
Just as Dorset farm labourers unionised as a stand against cuts to wages, so the Birmingham bin strikers are taking action against a council that wants to reduce their pay – by up to £8,000.
Matt said, “They can call it a re-structure all day long, but when you tell a worker that from a certain date, the most important part of the employment contract, the rate of pay, will be cut with no agreement, that it’s take it or leave it, that is fire and re-hire!!”
To increasing applause and shouts of solidarity Matt summed up, “We won’t be intimidated, we won't be divided, we won’t be silenced. We will continue to fight this injustice together.”
Powerful speech Matt Reid, Birm bin strik
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