You are:

Tolpuddle Martyrs' festival - 20 July

2 July 2008

Thousands of trade union members will once again descend upon the Dorset village of Tolpuddle in July for the annual Martyrs' Festival. PCS is a sponsor of the event which commemorates the six farm labourers who were transported to Australia for forming a trade union.

This year’s line-up includes Alabama 3, Congolese Latin fusion band Grupo Lokito and Seize the Day, amongst many others. Speakers will include Tony Benn, Brendan Barber (TUC), Kate Allen (Amnesty) and Hashemiya Muhsin Hussein (General Federation of Iraqi Workers).

The annual festival commemorates the six farm labourers who were arrested on 24 February 1834 on a charge of taking part in an 'illegal oath' ceremony.

In the eyes of their masters, however, the real offence was that they had dared to form a trade union to defend their livelihoods - for this they were sentenced to seven years' transportation to the penal colonies of Australia.

The sentences provoked an immense outcry, leading to the first great mass trade union protest. The campaign won free pardons and the martyrs return to England - an historic episode in the struggle for trade unionists' rights in Great Britain.

PCS is running coaches from London HQ - leaving 160 Falcon Road, London at 9am, the coach will arrive at Tolpuddle at around 12pm and return to London, leaving Tolpuddle at about 5.30pm.

Places are strictly limited on a first come first served basis. We are also looking for volunteers to help staff the PCS stall this year.

Please contact Mary Olubodun at maryo@pcs.org.uk to book your place on the coach and/or if you can spare any time to help on the stall.

PCS South West is also organising transport from Cornwall, Plymouth and Bristol - contact David Millar at david@pcs.org.uk to book your place.

For information about coaches to Tolpuddle from other parts of the country visit the TUC website.

View all News

Social Bookmarking

How to use social bookmarking