London Recruits and #thecwu

London Recruits 

We have been invited to support an independent film production under the working title of “London Recruits”. The film tells the story of how young, white Britons supported – and indeed kept alive – the anti-apartheid struggle being waged in South Africa by the then underground, outlawed and persecuted ANC.  

 

There is a direct connection between our union and this project. One of those featured in it, Steve Marsling, was a postal worker, during the period in question. The CWU’s predecessor unions all had strong links with the Anti-Apartheid Movement and we continue to support the work of its successor, ACTSA.

 

Remaining secret for decades their incredible story is now being made into a film that CWU members and branches can help bring to the big screen. The NEC has already made a donation to the project. Find out how you can be amongst the first to see the film.

 

Unions and the Anti-Apartheid Movement

 

By the 1960s, trade union, anti-apartheid and labour movements rallied behind the South African freedom struggle. The predecessor unions to the CWU all joined a number of campaigns and demonstrations, donated funds, boycotted South African goods, disrupted postal and telecoms services to and from South Africa and lobbied with employers to disinvest in South African companies.

 

The London Recruits selected for the missions were themselves young activists who came from the full spectrum of the labour and trade union movement and as such, the filmmakers behind London Recruits are working in collaboration with the unions to ensure that together we celebrate this important moment in our history.

 

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Why back London Recruits?

 

This is a movie that you can help make. The project is appealing to members, regions and branches to support the project in any way they can and help them reach their funding target by

 

August 1st. You can be amongst the first to see the film via one of our trade union packages available on our website.

 

The CWU have supported the film at a national level. I believe the main themes of the film – of international solidarity, resistance against oppression and imaginative, direct campaigning – are all those that are very much part of the CWU’s core values.

 

VIDEO LINKS

 

See trade union endorsements of the project here: https://vimeo.com/165129944

See video endorsement of the London Recruits here https://vimeo.com/174339384 

Watch the official London Recruits trailer here https://vimeo.com/151562047 

 

1) Donate either personally or as a branch/group/ committee and take advantage of some of the great rewards which are on offer.

 

2) Book a special Q&A screening for your group/union branch/committee and be among the first to see the London Recruits film.

 

3) Book a speaker to address your union/ branch committee meeting or solidarity/ campaign event.

4) Request a London Recruits resource pack for more information on the film and how your branch/committee can get involved.

 

5) Like the film on Facebook/ follow us on Twitter and help us reach a wider audience.

 

A CWUYouth podcast with one of the original London Recruits and former postal worker Steve Marsling is at http://cwuyouth.podbean.com/e/london-recruits-an-anti-apartheid-film/?token=a58915037fb64f72c2b45d061ae650be

Yours sincerely

 
 

Dave Ward

General Secretary