Tyne & Wear May Day 2025

TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY MARCH RALLY AND SOCIAL SATURDAY 33MAY SATURDAY MAY2025 2025

Peace, Justice and ForFor Peace, Justice and DemocraticRights Rights Democratic

TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025 | 1

FOR PEACE, JUSTICE AND DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS CONTENTS Contents & Speakers........................................ 2 Editorial Vin Wynne and Martin Levy............................ 3 In unity and solidarity, there is nothing we cannot achieve Suzanne McSherry............................................. 5 We need to step up our resistance and work together Daniel Kebede.................................................... 7 No to poverty, no to bad housing, no to racism and no to cuts in disability benefits!

Fran Heathcote.................................................. 9 Falling short on the promised New Deal for Working People Lord John Hendy............................................. 11 Rise up and demand justice for Palestinian human rights Rima Hussein................................................... 13 A daily voice for working people Bernadette Keaveney..................................... 15 Combine workplace struggles with a massive movement for change on the streets Gawain Little.................................................... 17 The Bicentennial Jarrow Rebel Town Festival Saturday 21 June 2025 Vin Wynne........................................................ 19

MARCH & RALLY, Saturday 3 May ASSEMBLE: 11 am, Bandstand, Exhibition Park, Newcastle MARCH LEAVES: 11.30 am prompt, led by the RMT Fishburn Band RALLY: 12 noon, Grey’s Monument Speakers include Suzanne McSherry Regional Coordinating Officer Unite the Union, North East, Yorkshire & Humber Region Daniel Kebede General Secretary, National Education Union Fran Heathcote General Secretary, Public and Commercial Services Union Lord John Hendy KC Chair, Institute of Employment Rights, and Vice-president, Campaign for Trade Union Freedom Rima Hussein Newcastle Palestine Solidarity Campaign Bernadette Keaveney Circulation Manager, Morning Star Gawain Little General Secretary, General Federation of Trade Unions MAY DAY SOCIAL

Music – on the march, and at the social.......... 20-21

immediately after the rally Tyneside Irish Centre, 43 Gallowgate, Newcastle NE1 4SG

Gallery: Tyne & Wear May Day 2024.. 24-27

Entertainment from Joe Solo

In Memoriam Jim Simpkin......................... 29 Centenary of the 1926 General Strike........................................... 30-31

2 | TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025

FREE FOOD AVAILABLE Print: Whittle Print, 36 Hutton Close, Crowther Industrial Estate, Washington, Tyne & Wear NE38 0AH: https://whittle-print.co.uk Design: CatwitchCreative https://www.CatwitchCreative.co.uk

EDITORIAL WE WISH A warmest welcome to all of the friends, comrades and colleagues gathering together to celebrate International Workers’ Day. We meet at an challenging time, approaching the first anniversary of the first Labour victory in nearly 20 years, but many will question whether this has been a cause for celebration.

The demise of the Conservatives seems to continue, but to the benefit of Reform UK, a party seeking to hide its true self, advocating nationalisation of the steel industry, while committed to privatisation of our NHS. However, Labour’s cuts to disability benefits and the scrapping of the winter fuel payment are leading many working people to look for an alternative. It is our role to demonstrate to them that Reform does not represent their interests. Farage is the supreme snake oil salesman whose party harbours racist and anti-worker values in considerable measure.

Away from domestic politics, we see a world in crisis, with global economics thrown into turmoil through Trump’s obsession with tariffs.

To nobody’s surprise, Trump was also unable to solve the war in Ukraine “in 24 hours”, and the signs are that the US will walk away from any peace talks. In Palestine too we see ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, as Netanyahu continues his war on the Palestinian people, appeasing

the extremists in his own government, while backed up by military supplies from the US and Britain.

Despite this ‘pessimism of the intellect’, we come together this May Day with a genuine ‘optimism of the will’. We know that a better world is possible; and speakers, including Daniel Kebede and Fran Heathcote, general secretaries of NEU and PCS respectively, will bring messages of hope. They will be joined by Lord John Hendy KC, Gawain Little GS of GFTU, Rima Hussein from Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Bernadette Keaveney from the Morning Star. As Suzanne McSherry from Unite, our first platform speaker, says: “May Day is not just a date on the calendar, it is a reminder of the power we hold when we stand together in solidarity,” − a message we remember as we gather for Peace, Justice and Democratic Rights.

Vin Wynne and Martin Levy May Day Committee co-chairs

TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025 | 3

unite the union north east, yorkshire & HUmber

SOLIDARITY TO ALL AT THE

TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY

CELEBRATION Unite fighting for jobs, pay and conditions @UniteNEYH

4 | TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025

join.unitetheunion.org

IN UNITY AND SOLIDARITY, THERE IS NOTHING WE CANNOT ACHIEVE ON INTERNATIONAL WORKERS’ DAY we meet to honour the hardfought victories of those who came before us, to celebrate the strength of our unions, and to renew our commitment to the ongoing struggle for justice, fairness, and dignity in the workplace.

May Day is not just a date on the calendar – it is a reminder of the power we hold when we stand together in solidarity. It’s a day to recognise that the rights we enjoy today were won through decades of collective action. Paid holidays, the eight-hour workday, maternity leave, paternity leave, workplace safety, none of these was handed to us. They were demanded, fought for, and won by working people.

While we celebrate these victories, we know the fight is far from over.

Workers across the UK are facing a

cost-of-living crisis that continues to deepen. Wages have stagnated while prices soar. Profits for big corporations keep rising, yet many of our members are being forced to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table. This is not just unfair, it is immoral.

Unite sends a clear message: We demand fair wages, safe working conditions, and respect for every worker; Jobs, Pay, Conditions. We demand an end to exploitative contracts and insecure work. And we demand that those who hold the power, in government and in the boardrooms, be held accountable.

Unite doesn’t just demand change; though collectivism, standing together, Unite members are the change. The future belongs to us, the working class. When we come together in unity and solidarity, there is nothing we cannot achieve.

Unite members are inspired by the courage and wins of past struggles, and are fuelled by the belief that a better world is possible. Together, we will continue to fight. Together, we will win.

Solidarity forever!

Suzanne McSherry Regional Coordinating Officer Unite the Union North East, Yorkshire & Humber Region TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025 | 5

May Day Greetings from the National Education Union Join us in our fight for fairer school funding: neu.org.uk

WE NEED TO STEP UP OUR RESISTANCE AND WORK TOGETHER THIS IS THE FIRST May Day since the end of 14 years of Tory rule. It would have been good to be talking about the bold moves the new government were taking to address inequality and build a fairer, more just society.

Labour promised to end austerity, to make positive changes for working people: a better standard of living, improved public services, job security and a brighter future for our young people. There is little sign of this materialising.

Instead we have an ongoing war on the poor. From the ending of the winter fuel allowance to the continuing two-child benefit cap to taking away hundreds of pounds a year from disabled people, this government is trying to out-Tory the Tories.

This isn’t some wild left-wing rhetoric; this is the proud boast of Wes Streeting.

The disappointment and disillusionment with Labour will find an outlet. Right now, the bigotry and distortions peddled by Reform UK seem to be in pole position to capitalise on this.

Rather than challenge racism, division and hatred, Labour seems to think that aping Reform is the way forward. In reality, all it does is give them more credibility and increase their popularity. Unless Labour breaks with neoliberal economics, it might as well hand over the keys of Downing Street to Farage now.

Worshipping the market has given us growing poverty and inequality. It has brought us the financial crash, sewage in our water supply, a chronic housing shortage, sky-high fuel bills and cuts to the welfare state. These are all detrimental to the majority of the population, but they are all sources of wealth for the superrich. This must stop.

A 2% tax on those with assets over £10 million would raise £24 billion a year. A few modest moves towards a more equitable taxation on the richest 10% of the population – who own 57% of the country’s wealth – would raise £90 billion. So please, let’s stop hearing this nonsense about there being no money and the necessity of cuts.

More than ever, it is the unions who must give hope to working people and show that a better world is possible.

We need to step up our resistance and work together. We must try to co-ordinate our actions, to show that we have common interests as workers.

There still is a world that we can win.

Daniel Kebede General Secretary National Education Union TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025 | 7

North East, Yorkshire & Humber (NEY&H)

JOIN A UNION TODAY tuc.org/join-a-union

Scan the QR Code to find the right union for you

The TUC North East, Yorkshire & Humber sends comradely greetings to all celebrating International Workers’ Day. Unions have fought tirelessly for higher pay, stronger rights, and a fairer deal for working people.

With the Make Work Pay plan moving through Parliament, we are closer than ever to the biggest upgrade of workers’ rights in a generation.

MAY DAY 25

Together, we are making work pay in Westminster and in workplaces across the country.

NEYH TUC Regional Secretary: Dave Pike NEYH TUC I Unite Building I 1st floor I John Dobson Street I Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8TW Tel: 0191 227 5550 I Email : jsmith@tuc.org.uk I www.tuc.org.uk/northern

8 | TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025

Changing the world of work for good

NO TO POVERTY, NO TO BAD HOUSING, NO TO RACISM AND NO TO CUTS IN DISABILITY BENEFITS! THE ORIGINS OF International Workers Day on 1 May date back to a general strike in the USA for an 8-hour day, that was brutally put down by the state.

It was trade unions in Britain that won the weekend for workers, the 8-hour working day and paid holiday leave. It is workers and trade unions that campaigned for health and safety and that are winning a 4-day working week for some workers.

It is a reminder that not only do trade unions fight for better pay and terms and conditions, we have fought for leisure too.

We also fought for employers to fund pensions for workers, and campaigned for the welfare state to provide social security to workers when ill, injured or disabled, for maternity rights for women and for child benefit and free childcare.

Trade unions represent not just workers, but the interests of all working-class people – because today’s workers can tomorrow be unemployed or sick or disabled. When any Government starts attacking jobs, or pay, or pensions, or disability

benefits, it is attacking working-class people – and we must stand together to oppose those attacks.

PCS represents around 200,000 workers and retired members. Our members, who mostly work in the civil service, administer the social security system and they collect the taxes that fund it.

Unions were founded because working-class people learned that we are only strong when we stick together: united we stand, divided we fall. That is why my union has always taken a strong stand against racism, because racism seeks to divide working-class interests.

The enemy of working-class people in Britain does not come here by small boat, but travels by private jet. It is the privatised water bosses hiking your bills, and energy companies too, the rail companies jacking up fares and the landlord hiking your rent.

May Day is a chance to stand together in the interests of workingclass people and say no to poverty, no to bad housing, no to racism and no to cuts to disability benefits.

We stand together for all workingclass people on International Workers’ Day. Solidarity!

Fran Heathcote General Secretary Public & Commercial Services Union TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025 | 9

FALLING SHORT ON THE PROMISED NEW DEAL FOR WORKING PEOPLE THE EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS BILL, now in the House of Lords, is welcome. It will confer benefits on many of our 34 million workforce, but it’s a long way short of the policy menu set out in Labour’s Green Paper, A New Deal for Working People, drafted by a committee chaired by Andy McDonald MP (I was the legal advisor). A New Deal was adopted by the Labour Conference in 2021, reaffirmed in 2022, reiterated in 2024’s Labour’s Plan to make work pay: delivering A New Deal for Working People and referenced in both the election manifesto and the King’s Speech.

Two problems stand out amongst many others.

First, the Bill enlarges various individual (and a collective) rights. But rights are valueless unless they can be enforced. And there are problems with the enforcement mechanisms under the Bill.

Secondly, entitlement to each legal right depends on the legal status of the worker. A New Deal committed to a single status with all rights for all workers. Yet this is not in the Bill and has been left to consultation in months to come.

In any event, do workers need rights achievable only by litigation?

Might they not be better

off with legal mechanisms to increase their power through negotiations between unions and employers?

The Bill also omits sectoral collective bargaining, ie collective bargaining between unions and multiple employers to reach a collective agreement setting minimum terms across a particular sector, called a Fair Pay Agreement.

The Bill is silent on this. It does set up a School Support Staff Negotiating Body and an Adult Social Care Negotiating Body but these do not constitute collective bargaining and their outputs are not collective agreements.

Finally, although the Bill sweeps away the Minimum Service Level Act and most of the Trade Union Act 2016, it does not remove the anti-union legislation of the 1980s which so hamstrings unions and has led to a near collapse in collective agreement coverage. That legislation is incompatible with the UK’s international ratified legal obligations, as the international supervisory bodies have held consistently since 1989. A New Deal committed to bring our law on industrial action into line with our international legal obligations.

We need now to press for amendments and a second Bill to carry out what was promised.

Lord John Hendy KC Chair, Institute of Employment Rights, and Vice-president, Campaign for Trade Union Freedom TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025 | 11

CELEBRATING MAY DAY 2025 FIGHTING FOR PUBLIC SERVICES AND A NEW DEAL FOR WORKING PEOPLE

joinunison.org 12 | TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025

RISE UP AND DEMAND JUSTICE FOR PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS, through the live televised genocide of Palestinians, much of the world has awoken to the colonial settler project of Israel. Damning reports by the ICJ, ICC, Amnesty International, Save the Children and all UN special rapporteurs acknowledge this genocide. But patterns of silencing permeate Westminster and workplaces, as Labour keeps arming and supporting Israel. As trade unionists we need to stand together in protecting freedom of speech, fighting anti-Palestinian racism, and calling on the government to comply with international law.

As a Palestinian British academic working in a UK university, I see the scholasticide taking place in occupied Palestine, with the West Bank now targeted like Gaza. The deliberate targeting of schools, universities, and educators is a blatant violation of international law and a grievous assault on the future of Palestinian children and youth.

In Gaza at least 27,000 children and more than 500 schoolteachers and university educators have been murdered and maimed. Teachers are running shelters or providing education without basic necessities. A professor who worked at Northumbria University in 2023 is now sleeping on the sand with his family and scrambling to eat and drink. If I lived in Gaza, I would be a target.

It is the student movement that brings me hope. Students have risen on campuses across the globe to say,

‘Not in their name’. In the UK, we have seen some successes, with universities divesting, providing Palestinian scholarships, making statements on this genocide and rethinking their adoption of the controversial IHRA definition. It is also the students suffering police brutality on the frontlines, and arbitrary detention (in the US), whilst the youth of Palestine are kept as hostages without charge in Israeli prisons, enduring torture and terror – all while Western university executives continue their complicity by strengthening ties with Israel.

A permanent ceasefire is required urgently as the right to equitable education for Palestinians cannot be deferred. Trade unions supporting staff to speak out about this genocide matters more than ever. Visible support is needed in any spaces we occupy – including our workplaces. How will we use our relative privilege to fight for Palestinians that have lost everything?

We need to keep fighting until this genocide ends, until the occupation is over, until Palestinians have the right to life, dignity, peace and sovereignty.

Rima Hussein Newcastle Palestine Solidarity Campaign TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025 | 13

BUY SHARES IN YOUR for Peace and Socialism

BRITAIN’S ONLY SOCIALIST DAILY BRITAIN’S ONLY CO-OPERATIVE DAILY “I read the Morning Star because I want to read a paper I can trust. It touches on issues the other papers don’t” Maxine Peake Star Ambassador

To People’s Press Printing Society Ltd ….

I hereby apply for membership of the People’s Press Printing Society Ltd. I enclose

Full name (individual application) Branch (union application)

£ Being payment in full, at the rate of £10 per share. I further agree to conform with the rules of the PPPS.

Are you aged 16 or over? (yes/no) Email Postal address (inc.postcode) Are you an existing member?

Please supply shares number.

Registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 Registration number. 12750R

Signature

Send this form to: PPPS, Ruskin House, 23 Coombe Road, Croydon CR0 1BD Or email to shares@peoples-press.com

14 | TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025

cut out and mail to us

A DAILY VOICE FOR WORKING PEOPLE I AM PLEASED to be here today representing the Morning Star newspaper which is celebrating its 95th year. The paper has for years been called the ‘Daily Miracle’. When it was launched on the 1 January 1930 as the Daily Worker it was thought it wouldn’t make a second edition but here we are, at the heart of the movement, still the only daily national newspaper giving a voice to working people.

Our paper is owned by its readers through a co-operative model and you too could be a shareholder by investing £10. A shareholding in the co-operative allows you to take part in the democracy of the paper by attending our yearly sectional AGMs. You would be keeping good company by becoming a shareholder, as you would be joining thousands of individual members, many trade councils and trade union branches, along with 14 national trade unions on our management board. Contact shares@peoples-press.com

At this rally you will have had an opportunity to pick up today’s Morning Star for free. Don’t let this be the only occasion that you read us. If you are a trade unionist you will find this paper an invaluable tool to carry out your work. Keep up to date with the struggles and successes of the movement both at home and internationally. Read in-depth articles on peace, industrial matters, equality and green issues alongside sports and arts, all from a socialist perspective.

The paper is available both digitally and in print format. Ask your nearest retailer to stock the paper if they don’t already; it is available from their usual wholesaler, the same as any national newspaper. We are often available at Co-ops and Morrisons Daily. If you prefer to read online here is the link to subscribe: https://www. morningstaronline.co.uk/subscribe.

Not quite ready to commit to buying every day? Then, why not sign up to our Daily Alert which will arrive in your in box every day highlighting articles not to be missed? https:// tinyurl.com/49uv4v7x.

Today let us enjoy the traditions of May Day with the knowledge that tomorrow the Morning Star will be with you in continuing the fight for peace and socialism.

Bernadette Keaveney Circulation Manager Morning Star TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025 | 15

MAY DAY GREETINGS TO ALL FOR 2025

Regional Centre: NASUWT, 19 Witney Way, Boldon Colliery, Tyne & Wear NE35 9PE. Tel: 0191 519 5300 NORTHEASTNASUWT

NASUWTNORTHEAST

NORTHEASTNASUWT

For more information, please contact the Regional Centre. Alternatively, you can visit our website at:

www.nasuwt.org.uk

16 | TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025

COMBINE WORKPLACE STRUGGLES WITH A MASSIVE MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE ON THE STREETS “The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.”

It would be difficult to find a more accurate description of Britain today than these words, written some 90 years ago by Antonio Gramsci, an Italian communist imprisoned and ultimately killed by Mussolini’s fascist regime.

Economically, we have never fully recovered from the financial crisis of 2007-9, with household debt ratios through the roof. Covid and the subsequent cost of living crisis simply added further damage to a broken system. The vast majority of people have experienced declining wages, increasing bills, lack of access to public services and precarious, casualised work, with few if any rights at work.

Coming on the back of 45 years of destruction of public space and community by a neoliberalism perfectly captured by Thatcher’s statement, “There is no such thing as society, only individuals and families,” this economic crisis is combined with a social and political crisis – often manifesting as a crisis of identity.

In response, we have seen the rise of far-right street violence and its counterpart in the racist politics of Reform UK. These charlatans try to paint themselves as a solution for working people, but their real agenda is clear every time they vote against

improving rights at work, and in favour of further deregulation and privatisation.

Meanwhile, our broken system lurches towards militarism and the drive to war. Increases in defence spending take money from vital public services while the return of US nuclear weapons to British soil for the first time since the 1980s makes Britain a real target in US and NATO wars of the future.

In the 1930s, Gramsci argued that militant industrial struggle was necessary, but not sufficient, to face the challenges of a system in crisis, awaiting the birth of a new society. Now, as then, working people must combine industrial, political and cultural struggle in order to take back our country from the neoliberal warmongers and the farright racists.

As trade unionists, we must combine our workplace struggles with a massive movement for change on the streets, linking unions, community organisations and progressive campaigns to demand a different future.

In doing so, we must not neglect the importance of rebuilding progressive working class culture, rebuilding our communities through what we hold in common.

Gawain Little General Secretary General Federation of Trade Unions TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025 | 17

NORTH EAST

FRATERNAL GREETINGS AND SOLIDARITY FROM THE FIRE BRIGADES UNION NORTH EAST BRIAN HARRIS

TONY CURRY

DAVE HOWE

KARL WAGER

REGIONAL SECRETARY

EC MEMBER

REGIONAL TREASURER

REGIONAL CHAIR

www.fbu.org.uk/regions-nations/north-east

@fburegion3

Northumbria University Branch

Stands in solidarity with all those who have had to take industiral action and are stuggling for a better, fairer, more peaceful future here and around the world

MAY DAY GREETINGS ADAM HANSEN Chair

ANDREW FEENEY Secretary

THE BICENTENIAL JARROW REBEL TOWN FESTIVAL Saturday 21 June 2025 iN 2025 WE MARK the 200th anniversary of the formation of the United Colliers of Northumberland and Durham, ‘Hepburn’s Union’, as well as the 40th anniversary of the end of the Miners’ Strike. Celebrating the history of this, the first miners’ union, will be the centrepiece of our annual commemorations in Jarrow at the Rebel Town Festival.

For the first time in 200 years Jarrow will see a United Colliers banner. We are also releasing a bicentennial United Colliers badge and a commemorative, comprehensive book on the origins and history of the union, never before completed in such depth and detail.

Our celebratory march will pass sites of tragedy and triumph, marking Jarrow’s history and contribution to our movement. Our first confirmed speaker is Mick Whelan, General Secretary of ASLEF. Others invited, but still to be confirmed include: Kate Osborne, MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East; Kayle Griffin, Offshore Rig Workers; Alan Mardghum, General Secretary, Durham Miners’ Association; and Heather Wood, Women Against Pit Closures.

David Douglass will give a brief talk, setting the historical context before a wreath-laying ceremony, which will be followed by the march.

We shall assemble by 11am near the Jarrow entrance to the Tyne Pedestrian Tunnel, before marching

past the site of the original colliery and arriving at the Crown and Anchor pub by 12.15. Here we shall host the main speakers’ platform, and there will be stalls and entertainment throughout the afternoon.

Jarrow has its own unique contribution to the early struggles of the miners and their first union, and the Rebel Town Festival has become an annual fixture in the North East labour movement calendar, marking the birth of the miners’ union and the gross violence which accompanied it.

Donations to the cost of the event are WELCOME. Please make payments

by BACS to Follonsby Wardley Miners’ Lodge Banner and Community Heritage Association, Co-operative Bank, sort code 08-92-99, account number 65442360.

Vin Wynne Festival Committee

On the march at the 2024 Festival TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025 | 19

MUSIC – ON THE MARCH …

If you are a regular attender at our May Day march, then you’ll be familiar with the tremendous service we always get from the Fishburn Band (www.fishburnband. com) leading out our parade. Founded in the early 1950s, the band was originally known as the Fishburn Colliery Welfare Band. For a number of years, it has been associated with the RMT, fulfilling many events on behalf of the union, including the Durham Miners’ Gala, the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival and the Jim O’Connell Festival in Ireland.

The band is regarded as one of the premier bands in the North East, and has qualified several times from this region for the national contests held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. This year, it comes hot-foot after its Euphonium & Baritone Section came away with plenty of silverware at the Durham County Brass Band Association’s Annual Solos/Duets, Quartets & Veterans Competition at Easington Lane. The band has issued three CDs, all of which can be ordered through the website above.

… AND AT THE SOCIAL Joe Solo is an award-winning musician, writer, poet, and activist from Scarborough. His musical odyssey began in 1987 fronting a bash-em-out band at school, and has seen him play nine countries either as lynchpin of pop-punk upstarts Lithium Joe or hammering out his unique brand of folk, punk and blues in his own right.

In 2015 Joe helped start We Shall Overcome (WSO), an organised response to state-issue poverty using gigs as both benefits and protest events under the tag-line ‘A Raised Fist & A Helping Hand’. WSO has since run upward of 1200 events raising more than £1 million in food, cash, clothing, bedding, toiletries, and furniture for food banks, homeless outreach, soup kitchens, refugee support networks, youth projects, and domestic violence units up and down the UK. Together with his ‘comrade-in-crayons’ Kevin Pearson, Joe has penned a series of children’s books for Unison, covering issues around equality and social justice in a bid to inspire the next generation of socialist imaginations.

Joe’s gigs have become notoriously rowdy celebrations of unity and solidarity, and he rebuts the accusation he is ‘preaching to the converted’ with the words: “Nah, I’m lighting a fire under the arse of the converted, because sometimes 20 | TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025

they need it! I want people to leave the place believing they can change the world, because they can. We forget that sometimes. When you hear your voice raised alongside that of everyone else in the room, you begin to understand how exponentially more powerful you are when you work together. To me, they aren’t just songs. They are musical collective action.”

Last year he led a ramshackle choir of former miners, their families, and local children from the pit community around Hatfield Main to close the main stage of Durham Miners Gala, and his album Sledgehammer Songs hit the Official Top 40 in both the Download and the Official Folk Album Charts.

Joe continues to donate all profits from his gigs and merchandise to front line community causes, helping fund the 150 food parcels per day handed out at The Station Hotel in Ashton-Under-Lyne, and the trade union-run food bank/help centre Hull Unity Shop.

Website: www.joesolomusic.com Music: www.joesolomusic.bandcamp.com

TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025 | 21

Day

friendsofdurhamminersgala.org | durhamminers.org | redhillsdurham.org

Tyne & Wear County Association of Trade Union Councils

Communist Party is proud to send NORTHERN DISTRICT

MAY DAY GREETINGS Wanted:

Kill the Tories’ Strikes

theNorthumbria return of JoinWelcomes UNISON @ To protect jobs & health Wear May ToTyne maintain and safetyDay for all To improve pay, terms and conditions

on the streets

(Minimum S communities O L I D AService R I T Y fit FLevels) Rfor OM THE

working-class Bill with mass people action

Join UNISON online at https://join.unison.org.uk/ DU RHAM MINERS

J O I N U S O N 1 3 T H J U L Y F O R T H E D U RToHcontact A M Mthe I N Branch E R S ’ Gemail ALA :H ¿JKW IRU D EHWWHU ZRUNSODFH IRU VWDႇ unison@northumbria.ac.uk and a fairer world through education

President:orDave Allan Telephone us on 0191 227 4105

e.info@northerncommunists.org.uk e. info@ncrthemcommunists.org.uk t. 07799 040 570 Chair: A Hansen • Secretary: E-J Phillips www.northerncommunists.org.uk

https://www.facebook.com/UNISONatnorthumbria e: twcatuc@aol.co.uk

Newcastle Stop the War Coalition

MAY DAY GREETINGS FROM THE DURHAM MINERS’ ASSOCIATION

Greetingstoto toall all for 2016 Greetings to May Day 2017 Day 2016 allfor for May May Day 2017 Greetings all for May Day 2018 Greetings May Day 2022 for MayDay Day 2018

Communist Communist Party Party NORTHERN NORTHERN DISTRICT DISTRICT TYNESIDE ENGINEERING BRANCH BRANCH

Wanted: Wanted:

Don’t let the a racists divide us communities for Fight living communities fitwage! for Fight forfor a wage you fit can live on ¿JKW IRU KLJKHU SD\

working-class working-class people people

Secretary: Martin Levy

NO MORE AUSTERITY AUSTERITY

Dialogue not war Jobs not missiles NORTH EAST NOT SERVICE & GENERAL Welfare warfare!

Freedom not repression INDUSTRIES BRANCH Unite to resist the vicious government isTory proud to support President: Martin Levy TyneSecretary: & Wear Peter May Day 2022 Ford WePresident: look forward Martin to welcoming you to Levy Treasurer: Lubbeck Durham whenAlan Gala returns on Secretary: the Jim Simpkin Paul Ford Saturday 9 July 2022.

Treasurer: Alan Lubbeck Chair: Dave Allan

Secretary: Bob Murdoch Murdock e. e.info@ncrthemcommunists.org.uk info@ncrthemcommunists.org.uk 16 Caversham Road, Chapel House www.northeaststopwar.org.uk www.stopwar.org.uk t.t.07799 07799040 040570 570 Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 1JP email: stopthewarcoalition@gmail.com email: newcastlestopwar@gmail.com www.northerncommunists.org.uk www.northerncommunists.org.uk

Secretary: Tom Foster Alan Mardghum Stephen Guy Secretary Chair ���le� �re�surer��em�ers��� ��cer� ��rr�

22 | TYNETYNE & WEAR MAYMAY DAYDAY 2025 TYNE WEAR MAY DAY 0 3| 29 | &&WEAR 2022

8 | TYNETYNE & WEAR MAY MAY DAY DAY 0 |2022 | 25 & WEAR

www.newcastle-tuc.org.uk E-mail: thomasfoster@unitetheunion.org

ay

www.northeaststopwar.org.uk www.stopwar.org.uk Telephone us on 0191 227 4105 Email: nepeoplesassembly@gmail.com

Martin Levy email: stopthewarcoalition@gmail.com email: office@northeaststopwar.org.uk email:Secretary: newcastlestopwar@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/UNISONatnorthumbria e: twcatuc@aol.co.uk

Newcastle May Greetings Stop theDay War Coalition

TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2022 | 29

t. 07799Roger 040 570 Treasurer: Lane Chair: A Hansen • Secretary: E-J Phillips www.northerncommunists.org.uk E-mails: SteveHansom@me.com

TUC Tyne and Wear May Day Campaigns Advert A5 0224.indd 1

29/02/2024 11:21 am

Wear Tyne & &&Wear Wear Tyne

MAY DAYNewcastle GREETINGS FROMof THE County Association County Association of County Association from DURHAM ASSOCIATION May DayMINERS’ greetings

NO MORE NEWCASTLE PALESTINE NO NO MORE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN Communist Communist Party Party AUSTERITY Communist Communist Party Party

Greetingstoto toall all for 2016 Greetings to May Day 2017 Day 2016 allfor for May May Day 2017 Greetings all for May Day 2018 Greetings May Day 2022 for MayDay Day 2018 MAY DAYEast GREETINGS THE North LabourFROM History DURHAM MINERS’ ASSOCIATION Society

Fraternal Greetings on May Day is proud to send Creating a People’s History of the North East

Stop the WarCouncils Coalition Trade Union Trades Union Councils Trade Union Councils

Greetings toall all for 2016 Greetings to May Day 2017 Day 2016 all for May May Day 2017 Greetings to all for May Day 2018 Greetings to for May Day 2022 for MayDay Day 2018 Fraternal Greetings on May Day Day Fraternal Greetings on May

AUSTERITY NORTHERN AUSTERITY Solidarity from the Tyne & WearDISTRICT May Day NORTHERN DISTRICT MAY DAY

NORTHERN DISTRICT NORTHERN DISTRICT www.nelh.net TYNESIDE BRANCH ENGINEERING BRANCH Dialogue not war

If you are against the cuts

GREETINGS Wanted: Wanted:

Jobs SERVICE not missiles NORTH you EAST &us GENERAL are Freedom notwith repression INDUSTRIES BRANCH

Don’t letfor theresist us Unite to thedivide vicious communities fit for Fight aracists living wage! communities fit for Fight for a wage you can live on May Day Greetings Beware the far-right Reform government ¿JKW IRU KLJKHU SD\ isTory proud to support from people working-class working-class people Tyne & Wear May Day 2022 WePresident: look forward Martin to welcoming you to :H ¿JKW IRU D EHWWHU ZRUNSODFH IRU VWDႇ Levy :H ¿JKW IRU D EHWWHU ZRUNSODFH IRU VWDႇ CatwitchCreative Durham when the Get Gala returns on Shy Bairns Nowt!

Simpkin andSecretary: fairer worldJim through education and aa fairer world through education

SaturdayBob 9 JulyMurdoch 2022.

Secretary: Murdock Chair: Peter Rutherford e.Branch info@ncrthemcommunists.org.uk Treasurer: Alan Lubbeck

e. info@ncrthemcommunists.org.uk Chair:Road, Dave Allan 16 Caversham Chapel House www.northeaststopwar.org.uk www.stopwar.org.uk t.on 07799 040 t.

07799 040570 570twitter Find us facebook and Secretary: Tom Foster Find us on facebook and twitter Alan Mardghum Stephen Guy Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 1JP Branch Chair: Rutherford www.CatwitchCreative.co.uk email: stopthewarcoalition@gmail.com Chair: AHansen Hansen Secretary: E-J Phillips email: newcastlestopwar@gmail.com Chair: A Hansen •••Peter Secretary: Phillips www.northerncommunists.org.uk www.northerncommunists.org.uk Secretary Chair: A Secretary: AChair Feeney �re�surer��em�ers��� ��cer�E-J ��rr� ���le� Email: nepeoplesassembly@gmail.com Email: nepeoplesassembly@gmail.com Join at https://thepeoplesassembly.org.uk www.newcastle-tuc.org.uk E-mail: thomasfoster@unitetheunion.org TYNE&&WEAR WEARMAY MAYDAY DAY2022 0 3| 29 | TYNE

8 | TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY DAY 0 | career inTYNE the arts as writer, performer, & WEAR MAY 2022 | 25

Welcomes the the return return of of Welcomes

Dialogue not war in welcomes all participants Jobs not missiles NORTH EAST SERVICE & GENERAL Tyne& &Wear Wear May Day 2024 2025 Tyne May Day 2023 Freedom not repression INDUSTRIES BRANCH TYNESIDE ENGINEERING BRANCH BRANCH Unite to solidarity resist thegreetings vicious to and sends on the the streets on streets Tory government Wanted: Wanted: is workers proud toinsupport all struggle Don’t let the racists divide us Tyne & Wear May Day 2022 communities fit for Fight for a living communities fitwage! for Fight for wage can live WePresident: lookaforward to you welcoming you to on Martin Levy ¿JKW IRU KLJKHU SD\ Durham when the Gala returns on

Tyne to Palestine

working-class people Secretary: Jim Simpkin working-class people Saturday 9 July 2022.

Treasurer: Alan Lubbeck Chair: Dave Allan

Jim Simpkin President: Dawn Wainwright President: Dave Allan Dave Allan Secretary: Tom Foster Alan President: Mardghum Stephen Guy Secretary: Bob Murdoch Murdock Secretary Chair ���le� https://www.palestine.org e. �re�surer��em�ers��� ��cer� ��rr� e.info@ncrthemcommunists.org.uk info@ncrthemcommunists.org.uk www.newcastlepsc.org Secretary: Martin Levy Secretary: Martin Levy 16 Caversham Road, Chapel House www.newcastle-tuc.org.uk www.newcastlepsc.org e. thomasfoster@unitetheunion.org newcastlepsc@gmail.com www.northeaststopwar.org.uk www.stopwar.org.uk E-mail: t.t.07799 07799040 040570 570 e. newcastlepsc.gmail.com e: twcatuc@aol.co.uk e: twcatuc@aol.co.uk Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 1JP e. newcastlepsc.gmail.com email: stopthewarcoalition@gmail.com email: newcastlestopwar@gmail.com www.northerncommunists.org.uk

www.northerncommunists.org.uk Newcastle Palestine Solidarity Campaign Newcastle Palestine Solidarity Campaign 8 | TYNE & WEAR MAY MAY DAY 0 |2022 TYNE &MAY WEAR DAY | 25 22 | TYNE & WEAR DAY 2024 TYNE&&WEAR WEARMAY MAYDAY DAY2022 0 3| 29 | TYNE

cultural facilities, and to promote the career in the of arts as writer, performer, c musician, actor orand artist. development grassroots, communitycultural facilities, to promote the 24 BROCHURE full with amendments.indd 22 musician, actor or artist. d In general, the Government’s based cultural activities which are development of grassroots, communityMay Day Day Greetings May Greetings Tyne & Wear In general, the Government’s b MAY DAY GREETINGS FROM THE politically-driven austerity policies have based cultural activities which are owned and managed as democratically County Association of politically-driven austerity policies have o Greetings to all for Day 2016 DURHAM MINERS’ ASSOCIATION Greetings to all for May Day 2016 Greetings to May Day 2017 owned and managed as democratically led to huge cuts in cultural facilities Greetings to May Day 2017 2016 Day 2016 as possible. all forMay May Day 2017 Greetings toall all for Day 2018 2022 Greetings to all for May Day 2023 all for May Day 2017 Greetings to for May Day 2018 Greetings to for Day 2022 for May Day 2018 all for May Day 2018 North East Labour History North East Labour History Greetings toall all for Day 2016 Greetings to all for May Day 2016 Greetings to May Day 2017 led to huge cuts in cultural facilities Greetings to May Day 2017 May 2016 Day 2016 a all for May Day 2017 Greetings to all for Day 2018 2022 Greetings to all for May Day 2023 all for Day 2017 Greetings to for May Day 2018 Greetings to for May Day 2022 for May Day 2018 all for May Day 2018 as possible.

Trade Union Councils – to libraries, community centres, youth We need assistance from people in Society Society – Wallsend toWallsend libraries, community centres, youth SUNDERLAND ay facilities Memorial Hall Memorial Hall We need from people ay and assistance sports facilities.

These in the labour movement with knowledge SUNDERLAND SUNDERLAND Communis facilities and sports facilities.

These t TRADES UNION COUNCIL the movement with cutslabour are set to aa continue forknowledge years to of the the arts, sport, the media etc. If and People’s Centre Creating People’s History TRADES UNION COUNCIL Creating People’s History Communist Party and People’s Centre TRADES UNION COUNCIL is proud to send cuts are set to continue for years to NEWCASTLE o of theCommunist the arts, sport, the media Join UNISON @to Northumbria Party come, have athe greater impact in etc. the If you want to help us,@ please contact NEWCASTLE is proud send of the North East of North East Join UNISON @please Northumbria Join UNISON Northumbria Welcomes the return of come, have a greater impact in the PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN y you want to help us, contact sends fraternal greetings North, and are knowingly targeted at culture@newcastle-tuc.org.uk.

PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN NORTHERN D sends fraternal greetings North, and are knowingly targeted at sends fraternal greetings c culture@newcastle-tuc.org.uk. www.nelh.net solidarity, campaign to the least To protect jobs NORTHERN DISTRICT www.nelh.net sections of In society which are In solidarity, campaign forDISTRICT Palestinian rights, In solidarity, campaign to the least To protect jobs To protect jobs sections of society which are NORTHERN ENDhealth THE GENOCIDE, In solidarity,& campaign forQuille Palestinian rights, To tomaintain and PALESTINE safety for all well-off.

Wear May Mike is Day afor end Apartheid & FREE NORTH EAST SERVICE & GENERAL GENERAL NORTH EAST SERVICE & ENDhealth THE GENOCIDE, TYNESIDE ENGINEERING BRANCH ToTyne maintain and safety all TYNESIDE ENGINEERING BRANCH To maintain health and GAZA, safety BRANCH well-off.

Mike is afor all to end Apartheid & FREE PALESTINE STOP STARVING Join a Union To improve pay, termsQuille and conditions member of Unison INDUSTRIES BRANCH INDUSTRIES BRANCH STOP STARVING GAZA, Join a Union To improve pay, terms and conditions Wante ToCome improve pay,APARTHEID, terms member of conditions Unison We can’t pay taxStreet, the rich! to ourEND in Greyand Street, rallies,Wanted: What to bestalls done?

Weis can’t pay -Fight tax the rich!

END APARTHEID, Come to our stalls Grey rallies, Organise -in--streets Fight -against Win and convenor of Wanted: We can’t pay tax Strikes the rich! on the . of speaker events, films, etc..

Kill the Tories’ What is to be done?

Organise Win and convenor Build a united front Wanted: END THE OCCUPATION & Join UNISON online at Kill the Tories’ Strikes aMay united front against . speaker events, films, etc.. communitie ToBuild help tackle these issues on Newcastle TUC’s END THE OCCUPATION & Workers of the Wear unite!

May Day Greetings communities fit for Join UNISON onlineonat the Richest Day Greetings Join UNISON online at Newcastle TUC’s To(Minimum help tackle these issues Workers of the Wear unite!

FREE PALESTINE, isTax proud to support Tax the Richest is proud to support communities fit for Don’t letNewcastle the racists divide us -Don’t let the racists divide us Workers of the Wear unite! monopoly capitalism https://join.unison.org.uk/ Service Levels) FREE PALESTINE, For news you don’t get in Western media communities fit for Tyneside, Trades Union monopoly capitalism, austerity cultural committee. monopoly capitalism (Minimum Service Levels) https://join.unison.org.uk/ Fight for a wage you can live on from committee.

Fight for a wage you can live on For news you don’t get in Western media cultural working-clas https://join.unison.org.uk/ Tyneside, Newcastle Trades Union from working-class people Come to our rallies, Palestinian speaker Tyne & Wear May Day 2022 & to follow what we do:Tyne & Wear May Day 2022 ¿JKW IRU KLJKHU SD\ ¿JKW IRU KLJKHU SD\ Council has launched afilms project to He also edits Culture Come to to our rallies, Palestinian speaker and war & follow what we do:working-class people Bill with mass action We look forward to welcoming you He also edits Culture and war working-class people Council has launched a project toto & culture events, etc.

Bill with mass action To contact the Branch email & culture the events, films etc.

To contact Branch email promote cultural democracy with local :H ¿JKW IRU D EHWWHU ZRUNSODFH IRU VWDႇ www.facebook.com/newcastlepsc Matters (http://www.

Durham when theDave Gala returns on local President: Allan :H ¿JKW IRU D EHWWHU ZRUNSODFH IRU VWDႇ contact the Branch email Matters (http://www.

President: Dave Allan CatwitchCreative promote cultural democracy with www.facebook.com/newcastlepsc For newsTo you don’t get in Western media, follow & share:unison@northumbria.ac.uk CatwitchCreative https://www.facebook.com/ twitter: @newcastlepsc President: Dave Allan Forand newsunison@northumbria.ac.uk you don’t get in Western follow & share:Saturday 8 July 2023.

Saturday 9through July media, 2022. cultural institutions and authorities. ainstitutions fairer world education twitter: @newcastlepsc culturematters.org.uk/), aauthorities. website Secretary: Steve Hansom and a fairer world through education unison@northumbria.ac.uk culturematters.org.uk/), a website Secretary: Steve Hansom cultural and instagram: @newcastlepsc or c e. info@ncrthemcomm www.facebook.com/newcastlepsc e. info@ncrthemcommunists.org.uk instagram: @newcastlepsc or Secretary: Steve Hansom President: Dave Allan WallsendMEM Chair: Dave Allan www.facebook.com/newcastlepsc Chair: Dave Allan We aim to improve the access of Find us on facebook and twitter which publishes creative and critical cebook and twitter or Treasurer: Roger Lane which publishes creative and critical Treasurer: Roger Lane e.info@northerncommunists.org.uk twitter: @psc_newcastle aim to improve the access of Find us on facebook Telephone us on 0191 227 4105 t. 07799 040We e.info@northerncommunists.org.uk e. info@ncrthemcommunists.org.uk w Secretary: Bob Murdock e. info@ncrthemcommunists.org.uk Secretary: Bob Murdock t.

07799 040 570 Telephone twitter: @psc_newcastle us onRoger 0191 227 4105 Find us onnewcastlepsc@gmail.com facebook and Secretary: Tom Foster Treasurer: Lane Secretary: Tom Foster Email: nepeoplesassembly@gmail.com assembly@gmail.com Get inon touch: Alan Mardghum Stephen Guy Secretary: Martin Levy working people on Tyneside to4105 local Telephone us on 0191 227twitter instagram: @newcastlepsc www.northeaststopwar.org.uk www.stopwar.org.uk material on politics and culture. material politics and culture.

Find us on facebook and twitter Email: nepeoplesassem https://wallsendmem.co.uk Get in touch: newcastlepsc@gmail.com www.northeaststopwar.org.uk www.stopwar.org.uk t.

07799 040 570 working people on Tyneside to local t.

07799 040 570 instagram: @newcastlepsc 16 Caversham Road, Chapel House www.northeaststopwar.org.uk www.stopwar.org.uk www.northerncomm m www.northerncommunists.org.uk 16 Caversham Road, Chapel House www.CatwitchCreative.co.uk Secretary www.northeaststopwar.org.uk www.CatwitchCreative.co.uk Chair: Awww.stopwar.org.uk Hansen • Secretary: E-J Chair Phillips Chair:nepeoplesassembly@gmail.com A Hansen • Secretary: E-J Phillips 7UHDVXUHU 0HPEHUVKLS 2ႈFHU *DUU\ 5RZOH\ Email: 7UHDVXUHU 0HPEHUVKLS 2ႈFHU *DUU\ 5RZOH\ https://www.facebook.com/UNISONatnorthumbria email: stopthewarcoalition@gmail.com E-mails: email: newcastlestopwar@gmail.com E-mails: SteveHansom@me.com Email: nepeoplesassembly@gmail.com e: twcatuc@aol.co.uk Donate?

EmailSteveHansom@me.com request to newcastlepsc@gmail.com www.northerncommunists.org.uk email: stopthewarcoalition@gmail.com www.northerncommunists.org.uk email: office@northeaststopwar.org.uk email: newcastlestopwar@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/UNISONatnorthumbria email: stopthewarcoalition@gmail.com email: newcastlestopwar@gmail.com Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 1JP Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 1JP Donate?

Email request to newcastlepsc@gmail.com email: stopthewarcoalition@gmail.com email: office@northeaststopwar.org.uk email: newcastlestopwar@gmail.com E-mail: thomasfoster@unitetheunion.org E-mail: thomasfoster@unitetheunion.org https://www.facebook.com/UNISONatnorthumbria E-mails: SteveHansom@me.com

Newcastle Newcastle Stopthe theWar WarCoalition Coalition Stop

TUC

Newcastle Newcastle n a THE MEM t s i Stopa the WarCoalition Coalition Stop the k War

TUC

Sends Sends NORTHERN DISTRICT Sends MAY DAY MAY DAY Day May Day Day GREETINGS GREETINGS greetings greetings greetings Communist Party

TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2024 | 23 24 | TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2022|

TYNE&&WEAR WEARMAY MAYDAY DAY2022 2022| |29 29 TYNE | TYNE & LIDARITY WEAR MAY DAY AIG 0 3 SO CAMP N

TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 0 3 1 &MAY WEAR MAY DAY 2024 ||23 TYNE &TYNE WEAR MAY DAY 2025 || 29 23 24 | TYNE & WEAR DAY 2022| TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2022 TYNE TYNE&& &WEAR WEARMAY MAYDAY DAY2022 2022| ||29 25 TYNE WEAR MAY DAY 2022 25

TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2024

Images © Martin Levy

FOR PEACE AND WORKING-CLASS SOLIDARITY

TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2024

Liz Blackshaw

St Buryan

Ron Brown

Images © Martin Levy

Sarah Woolley

Mick Bowman

FOR PEACE AND WORKING-CLASS SOLIDARITY

Ben Sellers

Martin Dent

Mohanad Elnour

am

TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2022 | 29

from May DayDay greetings May Greetings May Day Greetings

NEWCASTLE PALESTINE E SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN Y Solidarity from the

ay ay

North NorthEast EastLabour LabourHistory History Society Society

Fraternal Greetings on May Day Creating Creatinga aPeople’s People’sHistory History of the North East of the North East JoinUNISON UNISON@ @Northumbria Northumbria Join

www.nelh.net www.nelh.net Tyne Palestine Toto protect jobs choice To protect jobs Austerity aapolitical Austerity politicalthe choice If you areisisagainst cuts

TYNESIDE BRANCH TYNESIDE BRANCH Tomaintain maintain health and safety forall all ENGINEERING To health safety for ENGINEERING BRANCH Welfare Notand Warfare Welfare Not Warfare - Tax the-Rich you are with Toimprove improve pay, terms andus conditions To pay, terms and conditions

Tax the Rich Join UNISON online May Dayonline Greetings Day Greetings UNISON atat us Don’tJoin letMay the racists divide us -Don’t let the racists divide

Fight for aa wage wagefrom you can live live on on Fight for you https://join.unison.org.uk/ https://join.unison.org.uk/ from can ¿JKW IRU KLJKHU SD\ ¿JKW IRU KLJKHU SD\

contactthe theBranch Branchemail email ToTocontact unison@northumbria.ac.uk unison@northumbria.ac.uk https://www.palestine.org or Murdock or www.newcastlepsc.org Secretary: Bob Bob Murdock www.newcastlepsc.org e. Secretary: newcastlepsc@gmail.com Telephone us on 0191 2274105 4105 Telephone us on 0191 227 e. newcastlepsc.gmail.com 16 Caversham Road, Chapel House 16 Caversham Road, Chapel House Find on facebook and twitter e.us newcastlepsc.gmail.com www.CatwitchCreative.co.uk www.CatwitchCreative.co.uk Newcastle Palestine Solidarity Campaign Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 1JP Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 1JP Email: nepeoplesassembly@gmail.com Newcastle Palestine Solidarity Campaign https://www.facebook.com/UNISONatnorthumbria https://www.facebook.com/UNISONatnorthumbria Join at https://thepeoplesassembly.org.uk

CatwitchCreative CatwitchCreative

| TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 0 3

n a THE MEM t is

cultural facilities, and to promote the development of grassroots, community22/04/2024 14:19:28 Day Greetings basedMay cultural activities which are owned and managed as democratically asNorth possible.

East Labour History We need assistance from people in Wallsend Memorial Wallsend Memorial Society Fraternal Greetings onHall May Day Day Fraternal Greetings on May the labour movement with knowledge and People’s Centre and People’s Centre Creating asport, People’s History of the theisarts, the etc. If proud to media send you want to us, please of help the North Eastcontact culture@newcastle-tuc.org.uk.

ak

8 | TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 0 |

Newcastle Newcastle Stop Stopthe theWar War Coalition Coalition

career in the arts as writer, performer, musician, actor or artist.

In general, the Government’s MAY DAY GREETINGS FROM THE politically-driven austerity policies have DURHAM MINERS’ ASSOCIATION Greetings to all for May Day 2016 Greetings to May Day 2017 2016 Greetings to all for May Day 2023 all for Day Greetings to for May Day 2018 Greetings to Day 2022 Greetings toall all led to huge cuts in cultural facilities Greetings to for May 2017 all May Day 2018 May Day 2016 allfor May Day 2017 Greetings to all for 2018 Greetings to all for May Day 2022 forMay MayDay Day 2018 – to libraries, community centres, youth SUNDERLAND SUNDERLAND facilities and sports facilities. These TRADES UNIONCOUNCIL COUNCIL TRADES UNION cuts areis set to continue years to is proud proud tofor send to send NEWCASTLE come, have a greater impact in the PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN sends fraternal greetings sends greetings North, and fraternal are knowingly targeted at sections of society which are the least In solidarity, campaign for Palestinian rights, NORTH EAST SERVICE & GENERAL GENERAL NORTH EAST SERVICE & TYNESIDE BRANCH ENGINEERING BRANCH well-off. to end Apartheid & FREE PALESTINE INDUSTRIES BRANCH INDUSTRIES BRANCH Join a Union

TUC

Sends MAY DAY Day GREETINGS greetings Communist Party

NORTHERN DISTRICT We can’t pay - tax the rich!

We can’t pay taxStreet, the rich!

Come to our stalls Grey rallies, What is to beWanted: done?

Organise -in-Fight Win speaker events, films, -etc.. . isTax proud to support is proud to support ToDon’t help tackle these issues on let the racists divide us Workers of the Wear unite!

Workers of the Wear unite! the Richest communities fit for Fight for aWear wage you can live For news don’t get in Western mediaon Tyneside, Newcastle Trades Union Tyne &you Wear May Day 2022 Tyne & May Day 2022 ¿JKW IRU KLJKHU SD\ We look forward to welcoming & to follow what do:- youtoto working-class people Council has launched awe project Durham whennot the Gala returns on Welfare warfare :H ¿JKW IRU D EHWWHU ZRUNSODFH IRU VWDႇ :H ¿JKW IRU D EHWWHU ZRUNSODFH IRU VWDႇ promote cultural democracy with local www.facebook.com/newcastlepsc President: Allan President: Dave Allan Saturday 8 July 2023.

Saturday 9Dave July 2022.

Shy Bairns Get Nowt!

Stop arming Israel twitter: @newcastlepsc andSecretary: fairer world through education and aa fairer world through education cultural institutions and authorities.

Steve Hansom Secretary: Steve Hansom Chair: Dave Allan Chair: Dave Allan instagram: @newcastlepsc www.facebook.com/newcastlepsc Secretary: Bob Murdock Wee.aim to improve the access Findof us on faceboo Secretary: TomMurdoch Foster Treasurer: Roger Lane Secretary: Tom Foster Lane AlanTreasurer: Mardghum Stephen Guy info@ncrthemcommunists.org.uk twitter:Roger @psc_newcastle 16 Caversham Road, Chapel House Find us on facebook and to twitter Secretary Chair Email: nepeoplesassem 7UHDVXUHU 0HPEHUVKLS 2ႈFHU *DUU\ 5RZOH\ 7UHDVXUHU 0HPEHUVKLS 2ႈFHU *DUU\ 5RZOH\ instagram: @newcastlepsc Getwww.northeaststopwar.org.uk inpeople touch: newcastlepsc@gmail.com working on Tyneside local www.northeaststopwar.org.uk www.stopwar.org.uk t.

07799 040 570 www.stopwar.org.uk Chair: AHansen Hansen Secretary: E-J Phillips Chair: A Hansen •••Secretary: Chair: A Secretary: APhillips Feeney Newcastle upon Tyne E-J NE5 1JP Email: nepeoplesassembly@gmail.com E-mail: thomasfoster@unitetheunion.org E-mail: thomasfoster@unitetheunion.org E-mails: SteveHansom@me.com email: stopthewarcoalition@gmail.com email: newcastlestopwar@gmail.com E-mails: SteveHansom@me.com www.northerncommunists.org.uk email: stopthewarcoalition@gmail.com email: office@northeaststopwar.org.uk email: newcastlestopwar@gmail.com TYNE WEAR MAYDAY DAY2022 0 3||| 29 |25

TYNE &&WEAR WEAR DAY 2022 TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2022 25 MAY 29 24 | TYNETYNE & WEAR MAYMAY DAY 2022| &

Tyne & Wear May Day Gr Newcastle May Day greetings from May Day greetings from May Day Greetings May Day Greetings AUSTERI County Association of Stop theUnion War Coalition NEWCASTLE PALESTINE North East Labo NEWCASTLE PALESTINE North East Labour History Trade Councils

TUC NO MORE MORE SOLIDARITY NO SOLIDARITYCAMPAIGN CAMPAIGN Communist Party Communist Party AUSTERITY AUSTERITY Solidarity from the the Sends from Solidarity NORTHERN DISTRICT Sends NORTHERN DISTRICT

North East History Greetings toall all for 2016 Greetings to May Day 2017 Day 2016 allLabour for May May Day 2017 Greetings to all for May Day 2018 Greetings to for May Day 2022Societ for MayDay Day 2018 Society FraternalSociety Greetings on May Day

Creating a Peop www.nelh.n et History Creating a People’s Welcomes returnofofthe Nort Join UNISON @the Northumbria of the North East www.nelh Creating a People’s History of the www.nelh.net To protect jobs North East

Tyne to to Palestine Palestine Tyne

Day greetings

Dialogue notwar war www.nelh.net Dialogue not Tyne &against Wear May Day Jobsnot not missiles Jobs missiles TYNESIDE BRANCH IfToyou are the cuts TYNESIDE BRANCH maintain health and safety for all ENGINEERING ENGINEERING BRANCH Mike Quille is a Freedomnot not repression Freedom repression To improve pay, terms and conditions member of UnisonWanted: youonare with us the streets Unitethe resist thevicious vicious Wanted: Unite totoresist andthe convenor of Kill Tories’ Strikes May Day communities fit let forthe Join UNISON online at us Tory government Newcastle TUC’s Don’t let the racists divide us -Tory Maygovernment Day Greetings Don’t racists divide May Day Greetings communities fit for (Minimum Service Levels) Day fro g Fighthttps://join.unison.org.uk/ for aa wage wage you you can canMay live on on Fight for live cultural committee. ¿JKW IRU KLJKHU SD\ from working-class ¿JKW IRU KLJKHU SD\ people from

MAY DAY

May Day GREETINGS greetings

working-class people also Levy edits Culture Bill with He mass action President: Martin Levy President: Martin CatwitchCreative https://www.facebook.com/

Catwitch CatwitchCreativeCatwit

To contact the Branch email unison@northumbria.ac.uk Graphic Design Video Treasurer:Alan AlanLubbeck Lubbeck Treasurer: or Dave e. info@ncrthemcommunists.org.uk President: Allan WallsendMEM Secretary: Bob Murdock Secretary: Bob Murdock acebook and https://www.palestine.org which publishes creative and critical https://www.palestine.org e.info@northerncommunists.org.uk e. twitter info@ncrthemcommunists.org.uk Telephone us on 0191 227 4105 www.newcastlepsc.org t. 07799 040 570 www.newcastlepsc.org www.Catwitch 16 Caversham Road, Chapel House 16 Caversham Road, Chapel House www.newcastlepsc.org Secretary: Martin Levy e. newcastlepsc@gmail.com sassembly@gmail.com www.newcastlepsc.org e. newcastlepsc@gmail.com material on politics and t. 07799 040culture.

570 Find on facebook and twitterwww.Catwit https://wallsendmem.co.uk e.us newcastlepsc.gmail.com e.e. newcastlepsc.gmail.com www.northeaststopwar.org.uk www.stopwar.org.uk Chair: Awww.CatwitchCreative.co.uk Hansen • Secretary:www.northerncommunists.org.uk E-J Phillips www.CatwitchCreative.co.uk Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 1JP Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 1JP newcastlepsc.gmail.com e. newcastlepsc.gmail.com e: twcatuc@aol.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/UNISONatnorthumbria www.northerncommunists.org.uk www.newcastle-tuc.org.uk Email: nepeoplesassembly@gmail.com Newcastle Palestine SolidarityCampaign Campaign www.newcastle-tuc.org.uk Newcastle Palestine email: stopthewarcoalition@gmail.com email: newcastlestopwar@gmail.com Join at https://thepeoplesassembly.org.uk Newcastle PalestineSolidarity SolidarityCampaign Campaign Newcastle Palestine Solidarity TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 0 3 | 1 26 | Tyne & Wear May Day 2019

| TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 0 3 6 28 &WEAR WEARMAY MAY DAY 2025 8| |TYNE | TYNE TYNE&& WEAR MAY DAY 0 | 9 24 | TYNE & WEAR MAYMAY DAYDAY 2022| 8 DAY 0 | TYNE & WEAR 2022 | 29 :H ¿JKW IRU D EHWWHU ZRUNSODFH IRU VWDႇ (http://www.

Secretary:Matters JimSimpkin Simpkin Secretary: Jim and a fairer world through education culturematters.org.uk/), a website

Tyne & Wear May Day 2024 Committee:

Newcastle Palestine Solidarity Campaign 8 | TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 0 |

Newcastle Stop the War Coalition

n a THE MEM t s i

career in the arts asIn writer, performer, cultural(1955-2024) facilities, and to promote the Memoriam Jim Simpkin musician, actor or artist. development Jim Simpkin, secretary of both Newcastle TUC and of thegrassroots, May Day communityCommitIn general, the Government’s based cultural activities which are tee, died suddenly in September of last year.

He had held the Newcastle politically-driven austerity policies have owned and managed as democratically TUC position for 21May years, and had been stalwart of the May Day ComGreetings toall all for Day 2016 Greetings to May Day 2017 Day 2016 Greetings to all for May Day 2023 allfor for May Day 2017 Greetings to for May Day 2018 Greetings to May Day 2022 led to huge cuts in cultural facilities all for May Day 2018 asapossible. for about the same period.

–mittee to libraries, community centres, youth We need assistance from people Wallsend Memorial Hall in Wallsend Memorial Forand aSUNDERLAND number of years,These Jim providedthe photos the Maywith Dayknowledge brochure. facilities sports facilities. labourfor movement and People’s Centre Communis and People’s Centre TRADES UNION COUNCIL cuts are our set to continue forheld years When rallies were attoExhibitionofPark, he was first on field to If the the sport, the media etc. isarts, proud tothe send NEWCASTLE come, have a greater impact in the you want to help us, please contact supervise the installation of the marquee and the stage. He assiduously PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN sends greetings North, and fraternal are targeted at NORTHERN D promoted theknowingly sales of the brochure, andculture@newcastle-tuc.org.uk. was generally among the last to sections of society which are the least In solidarity, Palestinian rights, When we decided to hold our rallies at leave aftercampaign the siteforwas cleared. well-off.

Mikethe Quille is a to end Apartheid & FREE PALESTINE Grey’s Monument instead, Jim could be relied on to guard installation Join a Union member of UnisonWante and the We can’t pay taxStreet, the rich!

Come toPA our stalls Grey rallies, What is to besystem. done?

Wanted: and convenor of Organise -in-Fight Win Tories’ Strikes speaker events, films, -etc.. .

Jim was a dedicated trade unionist. He Kill had athe strong sense of faircommunitie ToWorkers help tackle these issues on Newcastle TUC’s of the Wear unite!

Tax the Richest communities fit for (Minimum Service Levels) ness at work andgetin community, and knew that workers needed colFor news you don’t inthe Western media Tyneside, Newcastle Trades Union cultural committee. working-clas & to follow whatawe do:lectivehas organisation and solidarity if they were to defend and extend their Council launched project to working-class people also edits Culture Bill with He mass action :H ¿JKW IRU D EHWWHU ZRUNSODFH IRU VWDႇ promote cultural democracy with local www.facebook.com/newcastlepsc interests.

He was a comrade, but also ahttps://www.facebook.com/ thoroughly decent chap with a Matters (http://www.

President: Dave Allan twitter: @newcastlepsc and a fairer world cultural institutions and authorities. culturematters.org.uk/), a website Secretary: Steve Hansom likeable disposition.

At a personal and organisational level,through he is education sorely instagram: @newcastlepsc e. info@ncrthemcomm WallsendMEM We aim to improve the access of Find us on facebook and twitter which publishes creative and critical Treasurer: Roger Lane e.info@northerncommunists.org.uk missed. e. info@ncrthemcommunists.org.uk t. 07799 040 Martin Levy Find us on facebook and to twitter Email: nepeoplesassembly@gmail.com Getwww.northeaststopwar.org.uk inpeople touch: newcastlepsc@gmail.com working on Tyneside local material on politics and culture. www.stopwar.org.uk t.

07799 040 570 https://wallsendmem.co.uk www.northerncomm Chair: A Hansen • Secretary: E-J Phillips Email: nepeoplesassembly@gmail.com President, Newcastle TUC E-mails: SteveHansom@me.com email: stopthewarcoalition@gmail.com www.northerncommunists.org.uk email: office@northeaststopwar.org.uk email: newcastlestopwar@gmail.com

TUC

Sends Day greetings

24 | TYNETYNE & WEAR MAYMAY DAY DAY 2022|2022 | 29 & WEAR

ak

Communist Party

SendsDISTRICT NORTHERN MAY DAY

May Day GREETINGS greetings

TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 0 3 | 1 Wear May Day 2024 Committee: TTyne yne & Wear Day 2025from Committee SO LIDARITY CAMPAIG N May May Day greetings

Newcas Mollie Brown Brown • Ron Brown • Bethany Elen Coyle Mollie May Day Greetings May Day Greetings NEWCASTLE PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN Newcastle May Day greetings from Tony Dowling • David Hamet • Peter Hill HIll • May MayDay Day Greetings Greetings AUSTERITY•Tony Stop the War Solidarity from the Martin Levy • Jim •the Vin Wynne Martin LevySimpkin • from Vin Wynne Solidarity Martin Levy • Vin Wynne Stop the War Coalition North East Labour History NEWCASTLE PALESTINE The Committee thanks all those individuals and North East Labour History Greetings toall all for The Committee Greetings to M Tyne Palestine allfor for M Greetings to all for Greetings to M North East Labour History for Tyne to to Palestine

E SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN Y Solidarity from the

North East Labour HistorySociety organisations organisations year’s event Greetings tohave all for 2016 who made thisDay Greetings to May Day 2017 Day 2016 allfor for May May Day 2017 Greetings to all for May Day 2018 Greetings to all May Day 2022 for May Day 2018 Society possible. If you would like to get involved with Society possible.

Society

Fraternal Greetings on May Day planning and and organising organising next next year’s year’s May May Day Day History www.nelh.net Creating a People’splanning celebrations, then then please: please: celebrations, www.nelh.n et History Creating a People’s of the North East Contact the the May May Day Day Committee Committee Communist Party Contact Creatingofa the People’s History North Eastof the c/o Martin Martin Levy, c/o Levy, 13 13 Shoreham Shoreham Court, Court www.nelh.net Newcastle Creating a North People’s www.newcastlepsc.org Newcastle uponTyne Tyne NE3 www.newcastlepsc.org EastHistory of the upon NE3 2XG 2XG e. newcastlepsc.gmail.com e.newcastlepsc.gmail.com www.nelh.net email Maydaycommittee@newcastle-tuc..org.uk maydaycommittee@newcastle-tuc.org.uk email: North East

Tyne to Palestine

If you are against the cuts you are with us

NORTHERN DISTRICT Newcastle Palestine Solidarity Campaign TYNESIDE ENGINEERING BRANCH BRANCH

May Day Greetings Wanted: May Day Greetings Don’t let the racists divide us May Day from greetings from from

communities fit for Fight for a wage you can live on ¿JKW IRU KLJKHU SD\

working-class people CatwitchCreative CatwitchCreativeCatwitchCreative Graphic Design Video Production Photography

https://www.palestine.org Secretary: Bob Murdoch Murdock www.newcastlepsc.org www.northeaststop www.stopwar www.CatwitchCreative.co.uk e. info@ncrthemcommunists.org.uk www.newcastlepsc.org e. newcastlepsc@gmail.com Find on facebook and twitterwww.CatwitchCreative.co.uk 16 Caversham Road, Chapel House e.us newcastlepsc.gmail.com email: stopthewarcoali email: newcastlestopw www.northeaststopwar.org.uk www.stopwar.org.uk www.CatwitchCreative.co.uk t.

07799 040 570 e. newcastlepsc.gmail.com

Email: nepeoplesassembly@gmail.com Newcastle Palestine Solidarity Campaign JoinNewcastle at https://thepeoplesassembly.org.uk Palestine Solidarity Campaign 26| |TYNE Tyne & & WEAR Wear May 6 MAYDay DAY2019 0 3

Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 1JP email: stopthewarcoalition@gmail.com email: newcastlestopwar@gmail.com www.northerncommunists.org.uk TYNE & WEAR M TYNE &TYNE WEAR MAYMAY DAYDAY 2025 | 29 & WEAR 2024 31 TYNE&&WEAR WEAR MAYDAY DAY2022 0 3|| 29 | TYNE MAY

CENTENARY OF THE 1926 GENERAL STRIKE Dear Colleagues National museums, libraries, archives, and history groups are collaborating together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the General Strike of 1926.

In partnership with the trade union and wider labour movement, our project aims to develop an interactive map of sites for public visitation throughout 2026. This may include details of a specific exhibition, an educational event, or a unique collection to explore, all part of our rich history of the General Strike.

Accompanying the interactive website, we plan to distribute a printed passport, encouraging public participation in visiting these sites and collecting stamps from each organisation they visit. This will provide discounts on related merchandise (for a mock-up, see below) and foster a desire to visit as many sites as possible throughout the year.

We are seeking donations to help us cover costs. The recommended donation amount is contingent upon the organisation’s size: National organisation: £100 Regional organisation: £50 Local union branch: £30 Local trades union council: £20 Donations from individuals are welcome too. You can donate by: 30 | TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025

1. Online payment at https:// actionnetwork.org/fundraising/ support-the-celebration-of-the100thanniversary-of-the-general-strike1926?source=direct_link&.

2. Bank transfer: Account name: GFTUET, Bank: Unity Trust Sort Code: 60-83-01, Account number: 33025023.

Reference: General Strike 100.

3. Cheque: Please make payable to General Federation of Trade Unions Educational Trust at 86 Wood Lane, Quorn, Loughborough LE12 8DB. If you want to get involved in the partnership, please contact campaigns@gftu.org.uk.

We express our gratitude for your consideration and eagerly

Jenny Mabbott, People’s History Museum Katie Cavanagh, National Coal Mining Museum for England Luke Pearce, Radical Tea Towel Company Joan Allen, Society for the Study of Labour History Henry Fowler, Strike Map Jeff Howarth, TUC Library Collections - London Metropolitan University John Lasdun and Matt Jenkins, Working Class History Les Doherty, Working Class Movement Library This letter is sponsored by the General Federation of trade Unions Educational Trust, and the project is anticipate collaborating with you to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the General Strike.

In solidarity Paul Foster, Beamish, the Living Museum of the North Tony Burke and Sarah Woolley, Campaign for Trade Union Freedom Gawain Little, General Federation of Trade Unions Lidia Letkiewicz-Rush, Kent Mining Museum

supported by: Beamish, the Living Museum of the North; Campaign for Trade Union Freedom; General Federation of Trade Unions; Kent Mining Museum; People’s History Museum; National Coal Mining Museum for England; Radical Tea Towel Company; Society for the Study of Labour History; Strike Map, TUC Library Collections - London Metropolitan University, Working Class History, Working Class Movement Library

TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025 | 31

May Day

United against Austerity fighting the cuts to our welfare state Greetings from the PCS Northern regional committee, reps, members and staff PCS Northern, UNITE House, John Dobson Street, NewcastleUpon-Tyne NE1 8TW, NorthernRegSec@pcs.org.uk

www.pcs.org.uk 32 | TYNE & WEAR MAY DAY 2025

@pcs_union

@PcsUnion