Birmingham May Day 2019 by Daniel Keeler

I am glad that May Day / International Workers’ Day is still celebrated in Birmingham. It is a few years (decades) since I marched, some years with a banner, some years without. The atmosphere was always warm, even the police enjoyed it!

Birmingham Clarion Singers

“Is a new world possible?”

asked Ian Scott, introducing Birmingham’s May Day event on Saturday 4th May.

He described the origins of International Workers’ Day as: ‘”Standing on the shoulders of others”, those that have worked hard for change before us; the eight-hour working day, for example. Organised labour never has never been welcomed, and it is inclement on us to build a better future.

The guest speaker, Arthur Scargill, was sadly unable to attend due to illness, but John Tyrell, President of the Socialist Labour Party, spoke in his place. He remembered 1972, when 50,000 trade union members marched at Saltley gate in support of the miners. It was a lesson in solidarity.

Bridget Green, from W.A.S.P.I. (Women Against Pension Injustice) noted that since its introduction for men and women in 1909, the state pension age has been raised twice, forcing many to continue in work. By 2011, pension…

View original post 277 more words

All schools must teach about LGBT equality: what should the Council do to support them?

Birmingham Against The Cuts

Go into any primary school classroom and you’ll hear teachers and children talking about families.

View original post 976 more words

Relationship Education in Birmingham Schools – a panel discussion Thur 2 May 7.30 Council House

Birmingham Against The Cuts

Panelists include:

Khakan Qureshi, Birmingham South Asians LGBT 

Ann Sawyer, Supporting Education of Equality and Diversity in Schools (SEEDS)

Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson, Headteacher, Anderton Park School

Councillor Martin Straker-Welds, member, Learning, Culture and Physical Activity Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Doug Morgan, Assistant Secretary, Birmingham District of the National Education Union

All welcome. Meeting organised by Birmingham Trades Union Council

View original post

%d bloggers like this: