The view from the floor – CWU Activist History Online 

The view from the floor – CWU Activist History Online 

As part of our Union Learning Fund Project, the Education & Training Department are developing a CWU history of activism resource which will be located on CWU Left Click.

 

The aim is to gather and store eye witness accounts, images, films and key documents relating to some of the major disputes and campaigns which have shaped the CWU and its founding unions. Rather than a formal archive this is very much an activist’s view of events. These resources will then be available to CWU students and activists who have an interest in finding out more about our own unique history.

 

Learning Project Worker Ray Atkinson will be gathering information and interviews with activists and retired members to populate this resource over the next few months. The first major event that we will be researching is the Grunwick dispute and we will be following up with the Critchley Labels dispute.

 

In 2016, we hope to expand this project to research the DRAS dispute, the 1971 Strike, the Mercury Boycott as well as other notable events. We are also developing a CWU timeline which will give an historical overview of the CWU. We will be issuing an LTB inviting Branches to get involved and to put us in contact with people who could provide eye witness accounts or historical material.

 

NEC members and CWU Officers will be well placed to assist with this project and we hope that you will actively get involved as the resource develops. The aim will be to launch the first chapter on Grunwick in November 2015 and the Critchley Labels Chapter by January 2016.

 

If any NEC members wish to contribute please contact Ray Atkinson via email at ray.atkinson7@virginmedia.com in the first instance.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Trish Lavelle

Head of Education & Training