10th February, 2023 is 51st anniversary of the Battle of Saltley Gate, a day to be set down in British history and a day for celebration for working class people coming together and achieving a notable victory which would end up with the fall of the Heath government. It is an event that should and could have been repeated had it not been for loss of nerve and the failure of leaders, including some in the Labour Party, to champion the interests of the working class. Orgreave, for example, was on target for repeating Saltley, but instead of maintaining the pickett there as had happened at Salley in ’72, they were moved elsewhere. Police later admitted that had they stayed there was little they could do any more than the officer in charge at Saltley could on that day when he order the gates to be shut. The year of celebrations of 50th anniversary was marked by a major conference in Birmingham with leading Trades Unionists speaking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65sFZdMftRQ Performances of Banner Theatre Productions are continuing across Britain and are available for booking. https://bannertheatre.co.uk/portfolio/banner-theatres-international-may-day-celebration-2021-2/ Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery added a digital archive of stories of Birmingham. https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/stories/the-battle-of-saltley-gate West Midlands and Yorkshire TV interview Arthur Scargill on 50th anniversary of Saltley Gate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g0lGGeqhoI There is more to do to remember Saltley Gate, The Mural of Saltley Gate at Birmingham South and City College at Digbeth requires renovation. A permanent educational site needs to be established at the site in Saltley taking advantage of present reconstruction taking place there. Banner Theatre wishes to complete a video of its production. Funding will be necessary for these advances and it is hoped that the Trades Union Movement will take a lead in keeping the memories of key moments in its history alive. Socialist Labour Party 10/2/2023
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Pickett line outside Birmingham Children’s Hospital today as RCN members take strike action
Shangara Singh, West Midlands Region of the Socialist Labour Party and RCN member joins staff and supporters picketting outside Birmingham Children’s Hospital oday, 6th February, 2023. The reactionary Westminster Government continues to vote on a bill outlawing strike action and the fundamental right of people to protest legally. Next stop House of Lords to prevent this becoming law. Protest will continue and intensify as MPs continue to refuse to consider fair pay and conditions for overstretched and long suffering NHS staff. 6//2/2023
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Day of Action against anti-strike bill
From Rob Hawkins, St Austell, Cornwall, Ron Sinclair St Peter’s Square, Manchester, Comrades from the Socialist Labour Party and Indian Workers’ Association in Central Birmingham. Please send in your photos! Rob Hawkins in St Austell, Cornwall, Wednesday 1st February Day of Action against Bill to outlaw strikes. St Peter’s Square, Manchester (Peterloo Massacre 1819). From Ron Sinclair. SLP North West Region. Members of Socialist Labour Party and Indian Workers’ Association in Birmingham. Today, 1/2/2023, in Birmingham thousands of school teachers, lecturers, nurses, firefighters, ambulance drivers and many more uniom mebers were on strike to protest against government austerity, inflation, work conditions and Unions say this is only just the beginning. Bhagwant Singh, Secretary IWA, Socialist Labour Party member.
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Demonstration in support of freeing Ukrainian Political Prisoners.
A demonstration was held in Central London on 28th January near to Downing Street and Comrade Kevin O’Connor, SLP London Region attended. Comrade Ian Donovan sent the photograph. Thanks. https://actofdefiance.wordpress.com/2023/01/29/international-ukraine-anti-fascist-solidarity-demo-london-28th-january-2023/ Next Wednesday, 1st February, is a day of action against the Government proposals to outlaw strikes. Comrades have indicated they will join actions in Birmingham, Manchester and Cornwall. If you are joining protests please let us know and send a brief report with a photograph. In recent months Arthur Scargill, Ken Capstick, Nell Myers and others have joined picket lines and had considerable media coverage. Each region has a banner and secretaries contacts are shown under te section on Regions.