Taking place this weekend and organised by the South West TUC, the Tolpuddle Martyrs festival is an annual event to commemorate those who have gone before us in the struggle for trade union rights.

Last year, #meTU had a “sexual harassment within our unions” meeting organised which included TUC womens officer, survivor Claire Laycock and a #meTU speaker. Unfortunately the festival was cancelled on the Saturday before the meeting took place. This year #meTU has been excluded from participating in any of the meetings – so we would ask the event organisers – what has changed in the past year?

Do they not believe the issues #meTU are raising are now valid? We would put it to them that the issues are far worse, evidenced by the drastic increase in staff working for unions resorting to strike action. 

In addition, the TUC hasn’t engaged with us in over a year, despite a commitment from Paul Nowak that sexism will not happen “under his watch” and the promise of roundtable discussions. 

We have an unprecedented situation where industrial action has been taking place in three major trade unions to demand cultural change, an end to sexism, bullying and harrassment. During which trade unions as employers have employed tactics such as no strike agreements and the derecognition of staff unions. 

Leading elected representatives are being targeted and suspended for challenging bullying. Yet no space is given to discuss these very real and important internal issues at this year’s festival. 

Trade unions continue to be unsafe spaces where perpetrators of violence are defended or paid off. 

Celebration of solidarity? Solidarity with who? 

It’s time for all trade unionists to step up and help us address these issues. It’s time to reclaim democracy and basic solidarity principles of an injury to one is an injury to all. 

We hope everyone can enjoy the event however we call on all principled trade unionists to question why #meTU has not been given a space yet a prominent platform is given to TSSA general secretary Maryam Eslamboult, who is presiding over a corrupt regime that bullies staff and suspends key activists for raising concerns . Moreover, the GMB are also expelling elected reps, like Cath Pinder who was an executive member, for raising issues. 

Are #meTU on a blacklist?

Over the last few years Tolpuddle has moved from “solidarity” to exclusion of artists and organisations. In 2022, serial bully and general secretary of the GMB, Gary Smith, wrote to the organisers to get pro palestine campaigner Lowkey banned from the event. The following year the festival cancelled the showing of “Oh Jeremy Corbyn -The Big Lie claiming it would cause disruption, despite being shown in over 100 cinemas across the country without incident. This is a worrying trend and can only result in censorship and exclusion. 

What you can do?

If you are at Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival:

Support TSSA staff on strike and those fighting undemocratic suspensions of reps and officers: protest the meeting with Maryam Eslamdoust at 14.00 Saturday 20th July in the Fringe Tent.

Join the Sexual Harrassment meeting at 16.00 Saturday 20th July and ask the TUC and affiliates what is being done practically about the suspensions, expulsions and continuing misogyny within our unions, and why they do not appear to be working with #MeTU?

After Tolpuddle:

• Join #meTU and take action.
• Support the call to restore democracy in our unions. 
• Support #meTU and invite a speaker along to trade union meetings
• Support striking staff in UCU, GMB and TSSA.