Friday 8th April Better Buses South Yorkshire campaign meeting
1pm on Zoom. I hope you are able to come along and join the discussion of the next steps in our campaign to win better buses in our region.
Log in details are: ID 840 2072 6084 Passcode 998132
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84020726084?pwd=QzY4a3JTSXpEY0Y2YjZxcEZGL2xGdz09
Email action – just takes a moment!
If you haven’t yet sent the message to candidates in the election for the new S Yorkshire Mayor, asking them to sign our Better Buses pledge, please do so now. It’s here:
Demand the Next Mayor Makes the Better Buses Pledge | We Own It
You may notice that the Lib Dem candidate does not appear on the recipients’ list – this is because he has already agreed to adopt the pledge in his campaigning in response to messages sent to him. The list will be updated as we get further responses.
Tuesday 12th April “Yes! Yes! UCS” – 50th anniversary theatre
7pm New York Stadium, Rotherham. N.B. venue chosen for good public transport link from Sheffield via train or tram. Sponsored showing supported by Sheffield TUC, Rotherham TUC and Union Branches. Tickets £10 and £5 unwaged. Will include a speaker and discussion. Get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/yesyesucs-tickets-289510031297?fbclid=IwAR3M6QaGa1Vh_C9gL86dA34XWa9bSCNYRlGBcRYjmZYXOsGZeXI1-o_uBhw
Townsend Theatre are bringing their new musical play (featuring the Sheffield Socialist choir) about the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work-in. Brand new, musical play which chronicles the story of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders ‘Work-in’ of 1971-72. http://www.townsendproductions.org.uk/shows/uppper-clyde/
Townsend Theatre Productions’ new play Yes! Yes! U.C.S! is a celebration of the community solidarity and collective resistance inspired and led by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders’ shop stewards Jimmy’s Reid and Airlie, attracting massive national and international support that led to victory in the fight for Right to Work. John Lennon and Yoko Ono sent a bunch of roses with message for the people of Glasgow; it read: “Power to the People!”
“Powerful theatrical storytelling combines with live rock and folk music from the early 70s and graphic art animated projection to bring a meaningful message of hope, social justice and the fight for the right to work.”
YES, YOU CAN GET THERE EASILY BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT!
By Rail: Depart Sheffield rail station 1807 Arrive Rotherham Central 1818. Walk 0.5 miles 9mins arrive New York Stadium 1827hrs. performance starts 1900hrs
By Tram train: depart Sheffield Cathedral 1800hrs Arrive Rotherham Central 1824hrs Walk 0.4 miles 7mins arrive New York Stadium 1831hrs. performance starts 1900hrs
By Bus: depart Arundel Gate (Stop AG6) X1 Steel City Link 1804 Arrive Rotherham Westgate/Main Street 1833hrs Walk 0.4 miles 7mins arrive New York Stadium 1840hrs. performance starts 1900hrs
Wednesday 13th April “A Tale of Two Wars – Yemen and Ukraine”
7pm zoom meeting organised by Sheffield Stop the War Coalition
Thursday 14th April BBSY Mayoral Hustings zoom event
7pm – 8pm Organised by better Buses South Yorkshire. Please join us and put pressure on the candidates for S Yorks Mayor to take back control of our bus services and commit to do everything they can to create a world class bus system for S Yorkshire!
You can now register for the Better Buses hustings which will be an online event. Here is the link:
“This event is crucial for our campaign. It is our opportunity to make it crystal clear to all the candidates that the demand for public control of our bus services is the most important issue in the Mayoral election, and to show the massive levels of support from the public for meaningful change to take place as quickly as possible.
Please make sure you register for this event as soon as possible and share the details widely! Every person signing up will increase the pressure on the candidates to sign our better buses pledge and commit to accountable and speedy action on franchising.
Thank you!
Fran Postlethwaite, convenor BBSY”
PS Hundreds of people have sent our email message to the candidates – please do this if you haven’t already. Here’s the link:
Demand the Next Mayor Makes the Better Buses Pledge | We Own It
Weekend 22nd -24th APRIL YORKSHIRE & HUMBER REGIONAL TUC CONFERENCE
Join the TUC in Hull this April for our 74th Annual Regional Conference – an action-packed weekend focused on the future of the trade union movement.
For the first time, conference is open to everyone – so please invite your reps, activists and members to attend!
VISITOR PASSES NOW AVAILABLE – REGISTER NOW – visitor passes free https://www.tuc.org.uk/YandHconference
Passes are free! And you are welcome to attend as much or as little of conference and our conference fringe programme as you like.
For the first time in the TUC’s history, our conference will take place in Hull. TUC Regional Conference is the annual meeting of the union movement in Yorkshire. It is our highest policy making body in the region, setting the political and policy agenda for our 600,000 strong movement in Yorkshire.
Conference highlights:
Friday 22 April – Hull Truck Theatre
Welcome to Conference reception at 6pm, with free drinks and canapes, sponsored by Unite. Followed by Unions Organising for Equality fringe debate, sponsored by Unite. All delegates, visitors, guests are invited to attend.
Saturday 23 April and Sunday 24th April – DoubleTree Hilton, Hull
Keynote speeches by TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady, and Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin. Cllr Daren Hale will open conference.
Debates on climate change and union organising throughout the day. Full conference agenda here.
Fringe programme available here: https://www.tuc.org.uk/fringe-listing-yh-conference
Thursday 28th April International Workers Memorial Day
1230hrs till 1330hrs by the Memorial Tree outside Sheffield Town Hall Pinstone Street.
Wreath laying ceremony and speakers. “Remember the Dead – Fight for the Living”
ITUC says “Make safe and healthy work a fundamental right this International Workers’ Memorial Day – 28 April #IWMD22”
Opened by the Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Sioned-Mair Richards & presided over by Sheffield TUC President Bob Jeffery followed by speakers (final list to be confirmed).
Please bring union banners! Please bring a wreath from your branch or other organisation! Please encourage your members to attend this important event!
Sunday 1st May Sheffield May Day march and rally
Assemble 12 noon Devonshire Green for march through city centre and rally outside City Hall in Barkers Pool.
Bring your banners and make some noise! Celebrate trade unionism and workers solidarity.
Thursday 12th May Festival of Debate “Trade Unions Fighting Back in the Community”
7pm Central Reform Church Norfolk Street. Organised by Sheffield TUC to discuss how local trade union branches and the Trades Council are linking positively with our local communities – and standing up to poverty, inequality and discrimination. Evening panel debate with speakers and discussion.
Saturday 14th May “With Banners Held High!” march, music, poetry, stalls and politics
(Note change of date – was 21st May)
Wakefield TUC continues to build this annual event on the theme “the Past We Inherit; a Green Future We Build!” See flyer attached. We await further details. This an all day and evening events in Wakefield.
Weekend 18th-19th June LGND Worker Climate Conference
Venue: Foodhall, Brown Street, Sheffield, S1 2BS. Organised by Labour for a Green New Deal.
LGND aims to contribute to the necessary development of a worker movement which can address climate change by hosting a national ‘Worker-Climate Conference’, in the aftermath of Labour Party Conference and COP26. To achieve this, LGND’s Trade Union team will bring together the range of organisers engaged in this work, to build relationships; discuss experience; and plan future strategy.
In between now and June, we are planning a series of 4 online sessions to supplement the in-person work at the conference.
The dates for these online sessions are:
Saturday 19th February, 10:30-12:30 Topic: Evaluation of Worker-Climate Organising in 2020/21
Saturday 19th March, 10:30-12:30 Topic: Just Transition and Worker Power
Saturday 23rd April, 10:30-12:30 (TBC) Topic: Local Organising
Saturday 28th May, 10:30-12:30 (TBC) Topic: Models for Organising in UK Unions