Issue 5 Out Now !

Manchester May Day hosts launch of builder’s strike story

Manchester’s May Day celebrations will see the launch of a new book telling the story of the historic builders’ strike and jailing of the Shrewsbury Pickets in 1974.

Authors of Flying Pickets, Dave Ayre, Reuben Barker, Jim French, Jimmy Graham & Dave Harker will be talking about the book at a series of events at the Friends Meeting House on May 5th, following a march and rally in the city.

Also at the event will be Newsnight journalist and trade union activist, Paul Mason, who will be talking about his book – Live Working or Die Fighting, how the working class went global.

There will also be music from Will Kaufman singing 'Woody Guthrie: Hard Times and Hard Travellin'.

Assemble 11.30am, All Saints, Oxford Road, Manchester for the march. Events at the Friends Meeting House start at 2pm.

CITIZEN 32 AT TOLPUDDLE

Citizen 32 is hosting a poetry slot at this year's Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival on July 19th. If you're going to "the left's Glastonbury", email us now for an open mike slot (editor.citizen32@ntlworld.com)

NORTHERN VOICES PRESENTS:

THE WHITE HORSE OF KILBURN - AN EXHIBITION OF POEMS BY KEITH ARMSTRONG, TONY MORRIS AND TREVOR TEASDEL WITH PHOTOGRAPHS BY TONY WHITTLE. DESIGN BY PETER DIXON

AT NORTHALLERTON LIBRARY MONDAY 14TH TO FRIDAY 25TH JANUARY 2008

Coke is the drink of the death squad

The Colombia Solidarity Campaign is picketting Coca Cola's London HQ on Thursday 20 December after death threats were issued to trades unionists.

Three activists - Luis Eduardo, Jose Domingo and Nelson Perez – have been told that they will be killed and buried in a mass grave unless their Sinaltrainal union stops protesting against Coca-cola. more

Save queerupnorth

Manchester's gay arts festival, queerupnorth is under threat after Arts Council announced its intention to cut funding for this year's event.

A campaign has been launched to persuade the Arts Council to reconsider its plan to cut he £90,000 grant.

Sign the petition

Stand up for Karen

Comedians Mark Thomas and Mark Steel are standing up for sacked NHS whistleblower, Karen Reissmann.

The left wing comics are performing at a benefit night at the Comedy Store in Manchester on Tuesday December 18th starting at 8pm.

Meanwhile health workers in dispute over the sacking have suspended their strike after Unison General Secretary, Dave Prentis agreed to a national campaign. More strikes are planned in the New Year.

Attila the Stockbroker backs Karen

Bernard Manning would be spinning in his grave. Radical punk poet Attila the Stockbroker is appearing at the Embassy Club in Manchester in support of striking mental health workers.

The gig starts at 7.30 on Sunday December 2nd for the nurses who are on strike over the sacking of NHS whistleblower, Karen Reissmann.

Johnny Vegas stands up for journalism

Comedian Johnny Vegas, who played a local newspaper reporter in an ITV sitcom, has sent a message of support for Monday’s Stand Up for Journalism day.

On November 5 media workers all over Europe will be taking part in activities to highlight cutbacks by profitable corporations which are making it impossible to provide independent quality journalism.

Dozens of events are taking place including a lobby of the Society of Editors conference which meets in Manchester

Liverpool museum workers strike

Museum workers have staged another successful one-day strike in their pay dispute with National Museums Liverpool

Unions condemn arts cuts

The TUC has condemned the prospect of cuts in arts funding for 2008-11 and the decision to divert £112m of lottery money from the Arts Council to the Olympics. more

Unions back mass strike call

Trade unions have voted to take "co-ordinated industrial action" against the the UK government over its public sector workers pay offer.

The TUC annual conference agreed that, unless there was an improvement to the 2.5% rise in two stages, there could be a series of mass strikes this autumn.

Peterloo campaign gathers pace

Supporters of a bid for a fitting memorial to the victims of the Peterloo Massacre, backed by comedian Mark Thomas, have called a public meeting on Monday September 17 as the protest gathers pace. more

Writer backs striking mental health workers

TV writer Paul Abbott has backed psychiatric nurse Karen Reissmann, who was suspended by Manchester’s Mental Health Trust after speaking out against NHS cuts.

A letter of complaint from Abbott to the chief executive of the Trust was read out at a rally of Karen’s supporters, addressed by trade union activists including NUJ NEC member and co-editor of Citizen 32, Dave Toomer. more

editor@citizen32.co.uk

 

Race issue out soon