NUJ General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet and UNITE’s Diana Holland to speak at 2015 Chainmakers Festival

NUJ General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet and UNITE’s Diana Holland to speak at 2015 Chainmakers Festival

Date: 11 June 2015
Embargo: For immediate release

The General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists, Michelle Stanistreet, will address the 2015 Chainmakers Festival and will be joined by Diana Holland, UNITE Assistant General Secretary.

This year’s festival, to be held on Sunday 12th July, has been moved to Cradley Heath High Street. This year a partnership with the Black Country Festival has been formed to deliver a packed family fun day of music, comedy, street theatre, speeches, stalls, chidren’s activities and a fun fair.

Following the annual Chainmakers Parade and speeches, music will be performed across two stages and will culminate with a headline comedy performance from the well renowned Black Country comedy group, The Fizzogs.  

Prior to the festival proper there will be a ‘Saturday Night @ Chainmakers’ event, with a night of spoken word and comedy at the Holly Bush Ale House.

Midlands Regional Secretary, Lee Barron, said:

“In March we held the inaugural Mary Macarthur lecture which was given by the TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady. And now we are delighted that Michelle Stanistreet and Diana Holland, two of the country’s leading female trade unionists will join us for the festival on July 12th.

The 2015 Chainmakers Festival will be a fantastic street festival full of activities for all the family. There is a superb line up of entertainment across two stages – the 1910 stage and the Macarthur stage – so I urge people to come along and have a great day.”

National Union of Journalists, General Secretary, Michelle Stanistreet, said:

“ I am delighted to be speaking at the 2015 Festival to honour the wonderful women Chainmakers – a true inspiration to us all.  Their battle against exploitation and for fair pay goes on today and we take huge encouragement from their determination and solidarity.”

UNITE Assistant General Secretary, Diana Holland, said:

"The women Chainmakers of Cradley Heath paved the way for the National Minimum Wage we all have a right to today. This Festival is our chance to remember their achievements and to forge another link in the chain for equality, workers' rights and pay justice."

Former Halesowen MP and Deputy Speaker House of Commons and, Sylvia Heal, said:

“Young and older members of the family can have fun while celebrating the achievements of the women Chainmakers of Cradley Heath and that inspirational woman trade unionist Mary Macarthur.”

Media enquiries:

-  Lee Barron, Regional Secretary, T: 0121 236 4454 M: 07919102472 E: lbarron@tuc.org.uk
- Rob Johnston, Policy & Campaigns Officer T: 0121 236 4454 M: 07879497291 E: rjohnston@tuc.org.uk