Assembling at 10 different locations close to the city centre (see details below and in the 'Discussion' section) this event has been organised by Greater Manchester Association of Trades Union Councils (GMATUC) to commemorate those killed and injured at the 'Peterloo Massacre' on the 16th August 1819 by local Yeomanry and Tory Government troops.
It is also intended to promote the widest possible debate on the kind of democratic reforms and improved civil liberties, the original Peterloo marchers, were they alive today, and working people in the here and now, might consider necessary to transform our present day undemocratic, and broken political system, into something that actually works for the majority rather than in the interests of the few. i.e. one which might allow us to put an end to the same kind of problems of austerity, new technology, inequality and unjust laws working people faced 200 years ago, and still face today.
The type of proposals we will be raising (the list is not exhaustive) include:
* Proportional representation for political parties in all elections
* The Peterloo Marchers’ and Chartists’ demand for Annual Parliaments
* Reducing the voting age to 16 and other extensions of the franchise
* Abolition of the House of Lords
* Greater democratic control of public services by the people
* A genuine democratic devoluton of power to the regions, cities and towns
* A greater say at work, including statutory trades union recognition and the abolition of the anti-union laws
* A written Constitution, Bill of Rights and Citizens’ Responsibilities
There will be a number of guest speakers on these and other themes from a range of organisations at the rally in Albert Square, which starts at 1.00pm. These will include:
Matt Wrack (General Secretary, Fire Brigades Union)
Julie Ward MEP (North West Labour MEP)
Ian Hodson (President, Bakers, Food & Allied Workers' Union)
Lynn Collins (Regional Secretary, North West TUC)
Owen Winter (Director, Make Votes Matter)
Marlene Walker (NHS Worker & Campaigner)
Pete Middleman (NW National Education Union)
Cllr Geraldine Coggins (Trafford Green Party Councilor)
Ian Allinson (President, Manchester Trades Council)
Felicity Dowling (National Secretary, Left Unity)
Mark Krantz (Peterloo Historian & Political Activist)
Paula Barker (Regional Convenor, NW Unison)
Alan Davies (The Word Newspaper & Peterloo March for Democracy Organising Committee)
Presiding: Stephen Hall (President, GMATUC)
Speakers will be grouped into threes and limited to 7 minutes each. Each group of three will be 'interspersed' with entertainment provided by Joe Solo, Claire Mooney, Bard Company and Crispin Flintoff. There will also be entertainment at the end of the speakers provided by Gerry O'Gorman.
We additionally want to help promote public meetings across the country on the theme of democratic reform in the 21st Century to mark the bi-centenary of the Massacre. If you’d like a meeting in your area, or to get involved in organising a contingent of people from your area to take part in the march. Then get in touch with us ASAP.
March Assembly Points (see central map and photos of the assembly points in the 'Discusion' Section. Also, other info you might need)
ASSEMBLY POINT 1 - Silk Street, off Blackfriars Road, Salford - Head Steward (Salford TUC) John Catterall - 07772 292161
Members of Salford TUC are organising this 'Leg' and are focussing on mobilising local trades unionists, labour movement activists and residents to join them here. Anyone else wishing to join them would of course be very welcome.
Facebook Event Page and other info to follow as soon as available.
ASSEMBLY POINT 2 - Hornby Street, off Bury New Road, Manchester - Head Steward not yet confirmed
North West Unison will be in charge of this leg, which will assemble in Hornby Street, off Bury New Road, Manchester. We are also directing people from the North Manchester, Prestwich and Bury area to this assembly point. Anyone else of course, is free to join them.
Facebook Event Page and other info to follow as soon as available.
ASSEMBLY POINT 3 - Derby Street, off Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester - Head Steward not yet confirmed
This is the assembly point we are directing members of the NWTUC Exec (not otherwised committed elsewhere) to march from along with ideally the NW TUC Banner.
It is also where we would like to encourage GMB, CWU and USDAW members to start the march, plus ideally everyone else other than Unite, Unison, PCS, NASUWT, the NEU, local Trades Councils and GFTU unions)
Facebook Event Page and other info to follow as soon as available.
ASSEMBLY POINT 4 - Village Park, off Collyhurst Road, off Oldham Road, Manchester - Head Steward (Rochdale TUC) Stefan Cholewka - 07901 913698
Members of Rochdale TUC are organising this 'Leg' along with activists from Oldham and The Word newspaper, who are the ones responsible for producing the FREE Souvenir 16 page Peterloo Massacre Bi-Centenary edition to mark the occasion, and to help to promote the event beforehand.
As well as encourage people from the Rochdale and Oldham area to join this 'Leg' (two local events have already been planned) on the day, we are also asking Labour Party Branches and CLPs (wherever they are from) to assembly here, and march into the town centre with Labour MEP Julie Ward.
Facebook Event Page and other info to follow as soon as available.
ASSEMBLY POINT 5 - Lime Bank Street, off Ashton Old Road, Manchester - Head Steward (BFAWU) Ian Hodson - 07772 292161
The Bakers' Union are in charge of this leg and will be asking fellow GFTU unions (e.g. FBU, RMT, TSSA, etc) to join them there for the march into the city centre.
We are also directing Trades Councils, such as Sheffield and Leeds and others from Yorkshire, Humberside and the North East to ideally march from here. Locals from the Tameside area who usually march the entire distance from Mossley for example each year, will also be joining the march here and encouraging others from the area to do likewise. We will also directing any trades councils from Derbyshire & the East Midlands (as well as anyone else from those areas) to join the march here.
Facebook Event Page and other info to follow as soon as available.
ASSEMBLY POINT 6 - Langport Avenue, off Stockport Road, Longsight - Head Steward yet to be confirmed
This 'Leg' is being organised by members of Unite living in the area in conjunction with Stockport TUC and will be looking to mobilise trades unionists, labour movement activists and locals to start the march here.
Facebook Event Page and other info to follow as soon as available.
ASSEMBLY POINT 7 - Whitworth Park, adj Oxford Road, Manchester - Head Steward (Manchester TUC/NEU) John Morgan - 07818 055605
This assembly point and march in is being organised by members of Manchester TUC, and the NEU in particular. MTUC will be usuing its network of contacts and affiliates to promote the greatest possible partipation of Manchester based trades unionists and labour movement activists as well as South Manchester locals, students and Manchester based campaigners, not committed to marching on other legs. Additionally, they will be asking for the members of the NEU everywhere (also not otherwise committed to marching with others) to join the march for democracy here.
The ever popular PCS Samba have kindly said they will take part in this 'leg' and the march in straight up Oxford Road to Mount Street and Albert Square, and are even doing their own independent publicity. PCS members are also being asked to assemble and march from here
Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/386914075287673/
ASSEMBLY POINT 8 - Alexandra Park, adj Claremont Road off Princess Road, Manchester - Head Steward yet to be confirmed
We would like to ask the NASUWT plus ALL trades council members from the South of Greater Manchester (Birmingham and London included) to assemble here along with all legal aid and NHS campaigners wanting greater control of the NHS by 'the people'.
This will also be the starting point for all groups campaigning for democratic reform of the political system, including Make Votes Matter, and other campaigners wanting to see the extension of the franchise to ALL UK residents 16 years old and over.
Facebook Event Page and other info to follow as soon as available.
Nb) Leg involves using a footbridge to navigate the Mancunian Way
ASSEMBLY POINT 9 - St. Georges Park, City Road, Old Trafford - Head Steward (Trafford TUC) Nik Barstow - 07976 025174
This assembly/leg starting point is close to where the 15th Hussars were stationed in 1819 prior to their deployment at St. Peter's Field.
We would ideally like UNITE to encourage their members to assemble here and to work with Trafford TUC to ensure a good turnout by workers from Trafford Park and the wider Trafford area generally. If Momentum are supportive of the march (we have no way of knowing, but think they could well be!) then we would ask them to direct their supporters to this start point as well.
Facebook Event Page and other info to follow as soon as available.
ASSEMBLY POINT 10 - Peel Park, Salford University, The Crescent, Salford - Head Steward yet to be confirmed
Bolton Trades Council will take charge of this 'Leg', as the assembly point is close to Salford Crescent railway station where people from the Bolton and the Wigan area have met up over many years, those marchers who have walked the entire route from Bolton to accompany them for their final walk into Manchester city centre and the annual Peterloo Massacre commemoration outside Manchester Central/ in Albert Square. The area in front of Salford Museum & Art Gallery is also a regular assembly/starting point for marches into Manchester City Centre by anti-fracking and climate change campaigners.
Everyone from the Bolton & Wigan area is being encouraged to start from here and local meetings have been arranged in both Boroughs. There will also be a free coach from Bolton and other organised means of getting there.
Following a discussion with the NW TUCJCC Rep, we are also asking that all Trades Councils in all four North West Associations to assemble here.
Facebook Event Page and other info to follow as soon as available.
For any further info contact your local trades council, trades union Regional Office or Stephen Hall at GMATUC on 01942 886645 Mobile: 07724 139278
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