Politics for the Many

From the Past to Our Future: memorialising victims of the transatlantic slave trade - Taunton
2023-06-10 15:00 - 16:30 (Europe/London)
With guest speaker Edson Burton MBE.

In the last few years many divisions and disparities in the UK have started to be addressed. The issue of racism remains sensitive because of the separation of ‘then’ and ‘now’, the fear felt by many that reassessment of Britain’s role in slavery leads to cancellation and debasement of UK achievement and culture. The call for reparations is often misunderstood, and is taken to mean ‘blame’. What is needed is a clear-eyed approach to history where the forgotten past is uncovered and reinstated – only with a fuller picture can we see how the past plays out in today’s world. Only then can we see what is needed to achieve fairness, equity, inclusion.
Doors open at 2pm for a 2.30 start, finishing at approx 3.30pm
Please join us afterwards for free refreshments and a bit of socialising and networking.
Very limited parking (including 3 disabled spaces)on site for those that need it, but there is free parking on adjacent roads.
Fully accessible venue, hearing loop-enabled.
As this is a memorial event please allow enough time to find us and to park your car so that all may be seated for 2.30pm. (Number 7 bus from Taunton Parade every 30 mins.)
This is an in-person event only.
This event may be recorded.
Because of its nature this event is not suitable for young children.
This event has been made possible by the generous support of Taunton & West Somerset Trades Council and Unite Dorset General 049 Branch.

Register online at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/from-the-past-to-our-future-tickets-641165…

Sylvia Pankhurst: Suffragette, Socialist & Scourge of Empire
2023-06-09 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
With…
Katherine Connelly – a writer, historian and an expert on Sylvia Pankhurst. She is the author of Sylvia Pankhurst: Suffragette, Socialist and Scourge of Empire and editor of A Suffragette in America: Reflections on Prisoners, Pickets and Political Change.
From militant suffragette at the beginning of the twentieth century, to an early voice on the dangers of Fascism. to campaigner against colonialism in Africa after the Second World War, Sylvia Pankhurst dedicated her life to fighting oppression & injustice.
This event will look at how this courageous and inspiring campaigner is huge relevance to socialists & those engaged in social movements today. With plenty of time for questions & discussion.
Hosted by Labour Outlook as part of the Socialist Ideas series during Arise – An Online Festival of Left Ideas 2023. Tickets & further info here.
You can view all Arise Festival 2023 sessions here.

CWU National young workers education event - Glasgow
2023-06-09 - 2023-06-12
Are you a little bit curious about the union? How it works? How you can be part of it? What can you do to make changes in your workplace?
The CWU Young Workers are holding an in-person event in Glasgow from the 9th – 11th June 2023 and you can go there to see what it’s all about as long as you are 30 or under.
You’ll meet like-minded young workers from across the UK in both the Telecoms & Financial Services sector and the Postal sector. This way you can discuss and share ideas on how to better your own workplace, you’ll learn about the wider trade union movement and hear from recently elected CWU officials under 30.
This is your chance to join other young workers in shaping the future.
Should you wish to attend the event please contact your Branch Secretary who if they agree you can attend will pay for your travel and hotel cost and arrange release from duty. If you have any questions regarding the event you can contact your Branch Secretary or email conferences@cwu.org

ONLINE & ONSITE LECTURE: Tony Benn and Labour’s 1973-74 programme for “an irreversible shift of wealth and power in favour of working people”
2023-06-08 20:00 - 21:30
Richard Burgon MP examines the contemporary relevance of Labour’s 1973 programme and the role of Tony Benn in its development and in its contested implementation.
Thursday, 8 June 2023 – 7:00pm
Marx Memorial Library, 37a Clerkenwell Green, London, EC1R 0DU
Contact
Email: info@marx-memorial-library.org.uk
Phone: 02072531485

NHS @ 75: How can we repair & restore it after 13 years of austerity?
2023-06-07 19:30 - 21:00 | Online
With Nadia Whittome MP, John Lister (Keep Our NHS Public), John Puntis (Doctors for the NHS), Chair: Chloe Brooks (NW. Rep, Labour Students.)

5 July 2023 marks 75 years of our National Health Service. Join the discussion on how we can end the current crisis, and secure its future as a universal publicly-owned, public service for all after 13 years of austerity.
Hosted by the Labour Assembly Against Austerity as part of Arise – An Online Festival of Left Ideas 2023. Tickets & further info here.
You can view all Arise Festival 2023 sessions here.

How can different levels of government work together to deliver levelling up? Hybrid event
2023-06-07 12:00 - 13:00
The government’s Levelling Up the United Kingdom white paper contained ambitious proposals to deliver a devolution deal to every area of England that wants one by 2030, but the proliferation of regional authorities and directly elected mayors across England alongside different arrangements in the devolved nations can make co-operation and co-ordination difficult. This event will consider what structures and ways of working could help support cross-government action on levelling up.
How well have mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) worked with central government? Do mayoral combined authorities need a single point of contact in Whitehall or is it better to work directly with different departments? Have MCAs successfully encouraged cross-council working on levelling up? How can the UK government work more effectively with the devolved nations?
To explore these questions, the IfG has bought together an expert panel including:

Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council
Professor Francesca Gains, Professor of Public Policy at The University of Manchester
James Grundy MP, Member of Parliament for Leigh (Greater Manchester)
Joe Rossiter, Policy and External Affairs Manager at the Institute of Welsh Affairs

The event will be chaired by Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.
Follow us on Twitter @ifgevents and join the conversation using #IfGlevellingup.
This event is kindly supported by Policy@Manchester, The University of Manchester’s policy engagement unit.

The Good Friday Agreement at 25: Time for Irish Unity?
2023-06-05 19:30 - 21:00 | Online
With Michelle Gildernew MP, Sinn Fein // John McDonnell MP // Geoff Bell, author, ‘The Twilight of Unionism’ // Chair: Rachel Garnham, CLPD.

Join us for a vital discussion on Ireland’s future and the prospects for real change, 25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement.
Part of Arise: An Online Festival of Left Ideas 2023. Tickets & further info here.
You can view all Arise Festival 2023 sessions here.

Our Right to Resist - online rally
2023-05-31 19:30 - 21:30
Major online rally with: John McDonnell MP // Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP // Kate Osborne MP // Lord John Hendy KC // Zita Holbourne, BARAC // Myriam Kane, Black Liberation Alliance // Chantelle Lunt, Black Lives Matter & Kill the Bill // Mish Rahman, Labour NEC (pc) & Momentum NCG // Rob Poole, Strikemap // Chris Peace, Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign // Hasan Patel, Young Labour // Daniel Kebede, NEU next GS// Fran Heathcote, PCS President // Alex Gordon, RMT President // Video message from Shami Chakrabarti.// Chair: Christine Blower.
The deeply unpopular Tory Government has had a major authoritarian shift – yet more anti-protest laws go alongside criminalising climate campaigners taking direct action, draconian further restrictions on our right to strike, and the so-called Public Order Bill – a new assault, on top of years of attacks, on our basic civil liberties and democratic rights.
As part of the growing resistance to this, we are bringing together a wide range of voices to stand up for our right to resist and say no more. Be part of it.
Opening Arise – An Online Festival of Left Ideas 2023. Tickets & further info here. Whilst all online events will stream for free, as a volunteer organisation we are selling an initial batch of tickets to register for the entire festival in order to meet the digital infrastructure costs of such an ambitious project. Thanks to all the pages listed on social media, who are kindly helping to promote the event.

Workers Can Win organising school - online
2023-05-30 20:30 - 22:00, 2023-05-23 20:30 - 22:00, 2023-05-16 20:30 - 22:00, 2023-05-09 20:30 - 22:00, 2023-05-02 20:30 - 22:00
All are welcome at this free 5-week online training course based on the book “Workers Can Win! A Guide to Organising At Work” and delivered by the author, Ian Allinson.
To order a cheap copy of the book, see workers-can-win.info/buy.
Each session will run from 7:30-9pm
Tue 2 May: Individual issues and organising
Tue 9 May: Choosing and framing issues
Tue 16 May: Organising conversations
Tue 23 May: Dealing with your union
Tue 30 May: Winning a strike
Register once for all the sessions. It is recommended to attend all the sessions, but you are still welcome if that is not possible.
There are a series of Facebook events you can use to help promote the course, or you can download a leaflet.

ONLINE LECTURE: Class mobilisation and class consciousness: contemporary understandings - online
2023-05-25 20:00 - 21:30
Jonathan White with John Foster in the Chair.
This lecture will examine the current strike wave as a period of class mobilisation, looking at the extent to which we can see class consciousness emerging within it and the offering thoughts on the prospects for sustaining and building this consciousness.
REGISTER HERE

Sort the System - The Lobby for Equal Votes - London
2023-05-24 - 2023-05-25
Sort The System is a mass lobby of Parliament to demand the fundamental change that our political system desperately needs. It will also be a great day out – with inspiring speakers, a great experience, and the chance to meet like-minded people from all walks of life.
Politics isn’t working. Life is getting harder and Westminster is letting it happen.
Our politics is out of touch because Parliament doesn’t fairly reflect how we vote. We need Proportional Representation so everyone has a voice that counts.
On Wednesday 24 May, people from every part of the UK are coming to Westminster to meet their MPs and tell them: it’s time to Sort The System!
Book your place

Reclaiming our Education System
2023-05-23 20:00 - 21:30 | Online
Part of a series of socialist policy seminars from the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs, Momentum and the Labour Assembly Against Austerity

Reclaiming our Education System
We need radical change in our education system to reverse the damage done by over a decade of Tory cuts and underinvestment.
Join the discussion on building a program for education that tackles marketisation, privatisation, creeping centralised control and the chronic strain on our educators from early years through to higher education.
FEATURING:
• Daniel Kebede, National Education Union’s next General Secretary
• James Whiting, General Secretary of the Socialist Educational Association
• Nabeela Mowlana, Chair of Young Labour
• Ian Mearns MP and member of the Education Select Committee
• Christine Blower, Member of the House of Lords and former General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers

A well-funded education service, accessible to all and not just the privileged few, has a key role to play as part of a programme to redistribute wealth, rejuvenate public services and tackle discrimination. Come along to discuss how we build it .
The online seminar takes place at 7PM, Tuesday May 23rd – book your place and stay tuned for speaker announcements and more info!

Part of a series of online socialist policy seminars. Organised by the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs in partnership with the Labour Assembly Against Austerity & Momentum

Emergency protest: Protect the right to strike - Westminster
2023-05-22 19:00 - 21:00
Multi-millionaire Tory politicians are attacking YOUR right to strike.
They’re planning to SACK key workers who take action to improve pay and conditions.
Join the emergency rally in Westminster to say: REJECT and REPEAL the Strikes Bill.
Why we are protesting
We can’t afford to lose the right to strike. But multi-millionaire Tory politicians are attacking our right to strike for better pay and fair treatment at work.
They’re planning to sack key workers who take action to improve pay and conditions. First they’re coming for paramedics, firefighters and rail workers- but who will be next?
Join the emergency protest in Westminster to demand that MPs REJECT the Strikes Bill and to demand that opposition parties commit to REPEAL the Strikes Bill.
This is our last chance to save key workers’ jobs, our last chance to save the right to a pay rise. We will not be silenced- come to the protest to make your voice heard. Protect the right to strike.
The attack on our right to strike has reached a critical point. On Monday, the Strikes Bill returns to the House of Commons where MPs will cast their final vote.
MPs will have a clear choice: will they support the right of working people to go on strike for fair pay? Or will they attack our fundamental rights and sack key workers if they take strike action?
The Tories have supported this bill at every stage, and proved they will stop at nothing to hurt working people. They have seen the impact our strikes have had, and know the public are on the side of striking workers. Their last resort is an outrageous attack on our right to strike.
On Monday, as the bill goes through its final stages, the TUC has called an emergency protest outside Parliament. Can you join and make your voice heard?
At the protest, we will hear from key workers and union leaders on what we must do next. We will not give in until these laws are defeated.
If the Tories are going to attack our right to strike, we need to make them pay a political price for it, so that they don’t attack workers’ rights again. And we need to make sure that opposition parties are committed to repealing this terrible law if they are elected. So can you join our emergency protest to call on MPs to reject and repeal the Strikes Bill?

Building a Movement for Democratic Change: Campaigns, Advocacy & More - online
2023-05-22 15:00 - 18:00 | Online
Join us to discuss what effective campaigning and advocacy looks like for us as a sector and how we can collaborate for greater impact.
We’ve been busy thinking about what effective campaigns and advocacy looks like for us as a sector, in particular, what’s worked and what needs improvement. There’s an opportunity for us as a network and as a sector to collaborate effectively, and with high impact, in the next year, and we’d like to kickstart this process with a campaign co-development workshop.

Marx Memorial Library at 90: Clerkenwell Our Home Our Radical History - London
2023-05-20 12:00 - 18:00 | Marx Memorial Library, 37a Clerkenwell Green, London, EC1R 0DU, United Kingdom
Open Day aimed at those who live and work in the area
join us for feature tours, refreshments and explore our archives on radical Clerkenwell

Saturday, 20 May 2023 – 11:00am
, 37A Clerkenwell Green, London, EC1R 0DU
Contact
Email: m.jump@marx-memorial-library.org.uk
Phone: 02072531485

Levellers Day - Burford, Oxfordshire
2023-05-20 11:30 - 17:30
Saturday 20 May 2023
Republicanism then and now
10.30 Singing in the churchyard
11.00 The Commemoration, led by the Reverend Canon Professor Mark Chapman, followed by the laying of posies
11.30 The march round Burford – singing the Internationale as the march sets off
12.15 Lunch break
13.30 Confirmed speakers to date for the Levellers Day debate Republicanism & democracy now

Symon Hill history tutor at the Workers’ Education Association (WEA)
Máximo Molina Gutiérrez from Colectivo de Olvidados por la Transicion (Group of those forgotten by transition – meaning the transition to democracy from Francoism to the Spanish Republic c.1976-1980)

15.00 Break
15.15 Confirmed speakers to date for the Levellers Day conversation Republicanism & democracy then

Dr Jonathan Healey Oxford University and author of “Blazing World”
Dr Imogen Peck Assistant Professor in British History at Birmingham

16.30 Close

We Make Tomorrow Conference - Manchester
2023-05-20 11:00 - 18:00
We Make Tomorrow, supported by UNISON, PCS, War On Want, NHS Workers Say No, Doctors in Unite, Campaign Against Climate Change and more, is a one day conference for building workers power on climate and crisis.
The conference will bring together union reps, members and other workers from every key sector, with union officials, climate justice activists and international guests. Together we will dig into what climate change really means for workers and how rising energy prices, inflation, falling wages and the climate crisis are not only connected but being driven by the same systems.
We start from the perspective that climate change is not a “green” issue per se, but fundamentally an issue for workers and social justice. From health and safety threats to the rising cost of living and from job losses to attacks on pay and conditions, change is unavoidable and workers’ power is more vital than ever. Join us to build it…

Solidarity Social - Lambeth & Hackney NEU in Bethnal Green
2023-05-19 19:00 - 23:00
Solidarity Social
Called by Lambeth NEU, Hackney NEU, NHS Workers Say NO! and UCU London
6pm-7pm
Meeting with speakers from NEU activists, workers from NHS, UCU, RMT and CWU
7pm-10pm
Social supported by Strike Club London
From 6pm
Friday 19th May
Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA
Booking is essential
Get your free ticket here

ONLINE LECTURE: Class mobilisation and class consciousness: language and the ‘practical moment’
2023-05-18 20:00 - 21:30 | Online
John Foster with Jonathan White in the Chair
This lecture will examine the role of language in class mobilisation and why such moments are both difficult to sustain and critical for social transformation

Demanding Democracy: Reinventing Politics for the 21st Century - Stretford
2023-05-18 19:15 - 21:15
Join us for the 10th anniversary of STIR magazine lecture “Demanding Democracy” with leading democratic theorist Carne Ross.
To mark the 10th anniversary of STIR magazine – on the evening before Stir to Action’s Playground for the New Economy Festival – we’re hosting a lecture on democracy delivered by Carne Ross, a writer and thinker on new forms of economy and democracy to meet the demands of the 21st century. A former British diplomat who resigned over the Iraq War, Carne founded and led Independent Diplomat, the world’s first ever non-profit diplomatic advisory group, working with democracy groups and liberation movements from Kosovo to the Western Sahara and Syria. Carne has contributed to many major publications and broadcast outlets, and is the author of two books, most recently The Leaderless Revolution: how ordinary people can take power and change politics in the 21st Century.
You can buy our 10th anniversary issue here.

Democracy Drinks - London
2023-05-17 20:00 - 21:30
Are you working on issues of democracy in the UK, or perhaps you’d like to strike up a conversation with those that are? Whether you work in the field or are simply curious to know more, this is for you. Meet new faces (and old ones) over a drink, and chat about the latest democracy gossip.
#DemocracyDrinks are a great way of making new contacts and catching up with people you know; for testing ideas and planning actions; for moral support and inspiration -or just catching the latest democracy gossip.
Held in cities around the world from Budapest to Kathmandu, #DemocracyDrinks are bringing together fellow democracy thinkers and doers for an evening of informal conversation, collaboration and networking.
This is a joint event, brought to you by the UK Democracy Network and Unlock Democracy.
Democracy Network are a network of people and organisations working on issues of power, democracy and voice throughout the UK. We aim to connect and work with others to build a stronger democracy fit for the 21st century. We do this through connecting people and supporting collaboration, increasing knowledge, skills and resources, and coordinating influencing strategies and action. Join the network here.
Unlock Democracy campaign for real democracy protected by a new and codified constitution that is built and owned by the people. Unlock are building a movement demanding democracy, working to transform the UK’s political system into one that is more democratic than it ever has been.
Refreshments and snacks will be provided.

Our Work Matters campaign launch - Justice for Outsourced Facilities Workers
2023-05-17 20:00 - 21:30 | Online
The Our Work Matters is a collaborative joint union campaign led by members of trade unions who represent outsourced workers and supported by the TUC.
Register for online campaign launch on Wed 17 May 2023
Join our online call on Wednesday 17 May at 7pm for the launch of the Our Work Matters campaign. Come along to learn about how you can win pay rises and improve your working conditions.
You’ll hear from cleaners, security guards, porters and caterers who are campaigning for better pay and fairer treatment at work.
And we’ll talk about how we can work together to improve working life for all outsourced workers.
This is your chance to shape this campaign from the very beginning.
So register now, share the link with your colleagues and join the call on Wednesday 17 May.

Strike together, re-ballot together, win together - RCN in Brighton
2023-05-17 19:00 - 20:30
Join this very special meeting during the RCN’s congress this year in Brighton. As unions across health and education being important re-ballots, we are calling this meeting to link together trade unionists across Brighton and Hove.
Government has failed to offer meaningful deals, with both RCN and NEU members voting to reject in large numbers. Alongside poor offers, the Government has moved to ban strikes using the courts, rather than talks.
Due to the anti union legislation, both the RCN and NEU have to begin a re-ballot in furthering their campaigns.
As the RCN Congress is in the city, we want to take this opportunity to organise this important meeting to bring together delegates from RCN congress and other trade unionists in the city to discuss how we can Strike together, Re-ballot together and Win together.
All are welcome to join us at the Tudor room, Old Ship Hotel, 4 minutes walk from the Brighton centre at 6pm.
Be a part of this important joint union meeting and continue to support workers taking action.
Confirmed speakers include members of the RCN, BMA and others to be announced.

International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia
2023-05-17 - 2023-05-18
Unite is proud to recognise International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia on 17 May. Known as IDAHOBIT for short, this date was chosen as it commemorates the date of the decision to remove homosexuality from classification as a mental illness by the World Health Organisation in 1990. The main purpose of IDAHOBIT is to raise awareness of ongoing discrimination, violence and persecution of LGBT+ people across the world.
Research by Stonewall, the national LGBT charity found that one in five LGBT people have experienced a hate crime because of their sexual orientation in the past year and over half of trans people have been subjected to a hate crime due to their gender identity.
Around a quarter of LGBT people avoid some streets due to safety concerns and 13 per cent have been discriminated against in a bar, restaurant or club venue. Trans people in particular still experience appalling levels of abuse on social media and are on the receiving end of misinformation and direct attacks from TV and print media.
That’s why Unite Equalities continues to work hard to campaign for more inclusive workplaces and safer communities for LGBT+ people across the country. We’re particularly keen for more LGBT+ Unite members to get involved, contact your regional equalities officer for further information.

Sort The System - Online lobbyist briefing meeting
2023-05-11 19:30 - 20:30 | Online
Join us for an online briefing session to get ready to Sort The System!
On 24 May, people from every part of the UK are coming to Westminster to tell MPs: it’s time to Sort The System!

Many people now want the best advice for how to talk to their MP during Sort The System. If that’s you – please join us in one of our upcoming online lobbyist briefing meetings. We will have experts to hand to help prepare you for your meeting -including MPs and leaders in the democracy sector.

To sign up to this one, click here.

May Day
2023-05-01 - 2023-05-02
The plan is to make May Day 2023 bigger and better than the previous year. Bookmark this page and visit nearer the time for more details on May Day 2023 or find out more from www.londonmayday.org.
