May 1868 saw the beginning of the TUC in Manchester and to celebrate a week of activities was put together under the hashtag #TUC150 with Global Justice Manchester invited and represented.
First up was an indoor festival at the Mechanics’ Institute on Sunday 29th. Apr. We had booked a Heidi from GJN in London to speak, but with only one non-group member having signed up to speak cancelled her presentation. Unfortunately this cancellation wasn’t known to some people at the Mechanics’ and several turned up and were disappointed. We pledged to looking to reschedule a speaker. We got a dozen or so cards signed for the Trade and Pharma campaigns and distributed a few, but a disappointing total given the potential. Against that our old friend Julie Ward came along and was only too happy to be photographed with our new Bridges not Borders booklet.
The following Monday night (May Day itself) saw a #McStrike at McDonald’s Oxford Street. We had been invited through War on Want and had a presence at both the post-midnight and 07.00-08.00 protests and were able to distribute a score of cards, though some seemed more interested in McBashing than considering the wider threat, even when explained to them. At least we got a photo of erstwhile Green Leader Natalie Bennett with one of our cards!
A third event was the annual TUC May Bank Holiday Sunday march, this time in Salford. As before we had a presence (this time with a small flag). Some there had already been spoken to at the previous events! We had a nice stroll in the sunshine round some leafy back streets (in Salford!) and ended up at Sacred Trinity for some mutual massaging of passion at which it was not the done thing to be heard to be too hostile to the Labour Party, though some may have thought their policies of the recent past not dissimilar to the Conservatives. This saw a few more cards dished out and got us mentioned in the Salford Star. The MEN didn’t cover the festival or march, but did cover the protest- using photos that had been tweeted by those present, their not having turned up. Better coverage was given by the Salford Star http://www.salfordstar.com/
During the year we get and find invitations to a number of events where we meet like-minded people who are likely to be amenable to supporting an card action. Some of these may be at an indoor stall, others peripatetic, talking to people on a march or at a rally. But, valuable as they may be, these are “the usual suspects”. There are also chances to have a presence at community events such as carnivals. These give us a chance to spread our campaigns to people who wouldn’t call themselves “activists”, but are concerned when we discuss the links between their immediate concerns and global issues and injustices. Although the fruit of these exchanges may seem to be just one or two signatures, they may lead to their recalling us later and taking action through a website or independently.
The success of all this indirect campaigning- multiplying petitions- depends on a number of issues, including the weather and other stories that may dominate the news. But it is linked to the number of people spreading the word and conversations had.
During the #TUC150 events we had no more than three present and only harvested a handful of cards. Could you join us on another occasion? We all have family commitments and other demands and so can’t make every event, but we have the props, can share tips based on experience, and nobody has to be an expert.
Keep an eye on our postings to find dates for your diary- we have Envirolution in Platt Fields happening on Sat. 2nd. June (- write a couple in, come along and feel the satisfaction of multiplying your effect on decision-makers.