Women Trade Unionists – Writing for Change
May 21 2024
The WEA Trade Unions Branch, are pleased to introduce the first in a series of short (1 hour)online sessions.
Women Trade Unionist – Writing for Change
Wednesday 12 June 12:30 – 13:30
To enrol/register please click on the link below
https://www.wea.org.uk/courses?search=Q00015642
Session Description
Margaret Bondfield, Julia Varley and Ada Neild Chew were three of the most important women in developing women’s trade unionism at the turn of the 20th century. Despite their working-class origins and limited education, they made use of the media to further their cause.
The talk will look at the influence their writing had on a hostile public opinion, social and government policy, how their trade union and political careers developed, and the similarities and differences in their lives.
We will conclude with a discussion on the effectiveness of their use of the media at that time and how we can effectively use today’s media to counter misinformation and disinformation about trade unions and workers’ rights.
Guest Speaker Sue Dockett, Unite Community activist and Unison retired
Branch Secretary of Croydon NALGO/UNISON from 1986 -1999 and a wing member of the Employment Tribunals from 1991 – 2004. I also held many positions in the union at branch & regional levels and tutored on regional training courses.
As Branch Secretary I led three strikes all of which were successful and negotiated the introduction of many policies including paid leave to care for dependants, a workplace nursery, a redeployment policy and a harassment procedure.
After standing down from my union role I became an Equalities Adviser to Croydon Council until retirement in 2009. From 2013 I have been vice – president, president and secretary of my local trades union council in Cambridgeshire. As a hobby, I like researching and writing booklets on powerful women.
Women Trade Unionist – Writing for Change – Wednesday 12 June 12:30 – 13:30
To enrol/register please click on the link below