We’d love to see you there! If you’d like to get involved at this year’s festival, please contact us. Photo: ©The MU.
This family-friendly weekend festival brings together trade union members, officials, and supporters from across the UK to celebrate the trade union movement’s rich history and continuing legacy.
It commemorates the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, who were sentenced to transportation to Australia in 1834 for ‘swearing an illegal oath’ as part of their efforts to organise and improve the pay and conditions of rural Dorset land workers. The sentence sparked widespread public outrage and led to a mass demonstration in London, helping to lay the foundations of the modern trade union movement.
Across the weekend, festivalgoers can enjoy live music, workshops, talks and a dedicated children's area. The MU will be there throughout the event with a marquee near the UniZone, and General Secretary Naomi Pohl will be speaking on several panels.
We'll also be joining the famous Sunday parade with our MU banner. The procession is a powerful and vibrant display of solidarity, and the largest gathering of the trade union movement in the South West. Entry on Sunday is free.
We’d love to see you there! If you’d like to get involved at this year’s festival, please contact sinead.mccarney@themu.org.
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