WITH BANNERS HELD HIGH

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2020 :: RMTnews 28 This years With Banners Held High event will see activists carrying their trade union banners marching through the Wakefield ‘s city centre accompanied by brass bands and flags generally creating a party atmosphere to celebrate solidarity amongst the whole working class movement. This event is to mark the historical roots of the mining heritage of Wakefield and to celebrate the enormous contribution to the local economy that came from coal mining, not just from the miners but also the jobs that relied on the industry such as engineering which provided the machinery that was used down the pits. Most of these engineering companies have now gone due to Thatcher’s government closing the industry down after the bitter miners’ strike in 1984/85. The theme of the event this year is the current global climate emergency which is unfortunately a legacy that we will be leaving for future generations to live with. This year’s logo will be "The past we inherit, the green future we build". Last year we used the 100th Anniversary of the signing of the end of World War One entitled ‘A Land Fit for Heroes’ as many working-class men were taken from their communities to fight in an imperialist blood bath. This year’s event is a full day of celebrating the working class struggle against a government which is determined to take away any rights that workers currently have to enable the bosses to do whatever they need to do to maximise profits and the exploitation of workers. There will be guest speakers, music, poetry, children’s activities, trade union stalls and various campaign groups, food stalls and workshops taking place to highlight the urgent need to act now on climate change and to promote awareness amongst today’s youth of the need to join a trade union and fight the bosses. It is hoped that many RMT branches will discuss attending this year’s event and bring along your banners to the largest trade union event of the year in Yorkshire and is getting bigger and bigger every year. RMT activist and With Banners Held High organising committee member Trevor Howard said that the event take a lot of time and effort to organise and the financing of the event is purely through contributions from various organisations, we have the stage to pay for, seating, stalls, marshalls for the march, Town Hall use, licenses etc. “We would gladly welcome donations from branches and Regional Councils to ensure that this event can grow and have the full participation of the union,” he said. WITH BANNERS HELD HIGH RMT will be supporting this year’s trade union event in Wakefield on Saturday May 16