Equity members gathered with thousands of fellow trade unionists in the Dorset sunshine to celebrate the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival last weekend, with a wide range of workers’ struggles tackled, from low pay to the threat of generative AI.
The annual event draws around 5,000 people for festivities, wreath laying and a banner procession which commemorates what is considered the birthplace of the British trade union movement. Equity president Lynda Rooke – now the union’s longest serving female president – marched with Equity’s national banner and lay a wreath at the grave of Tolpuddle Martyr James Hammett. The wreath-laying ceremony honours the memory of all the Tolpuddle Martyrs who were imprisoned and transported to Australia in 1834 for protesting about their poverty wages as rural labourers. Their act of coming together in a trade union and subsequent punishment inspired an uprising of the working class and an 800,000 strong petition to parliament.
It’s our collective agreements that will protect us in the workplace
Lynda Rooke, Equity President
"It was a privilege to join thousands of trade unionists from across the country in celebrating the legacy of the Tolpuddle Martyrs and reflecting on the challenges facing working people today,” said Equity south west official Kye Dudd.
Tolpuddle is famous for the live music, comedy, speeches, debates and performances that make up a packed festival agenda, and this year was no exception.
At a panel discussion on artificial intelligence and its impact on workers in the creative industries, Equity President Lynda Rooke emphasised the importance of collective agreements in addressing the workplace and industrial challenges faced by performers and creatives. Collective agreements cover the majority of UK TV, film and theatre work, but the gaps on AI are being urgently addressed by Equity.
“It’s our collective agreements that will protect us in the workplace” said Lynda, “and then we rely on Personality Rights to protect the things that have been stolen from us and continue to be stolen from us. The 1988 Copyright Act was when people had mobile phones the size of bricks and we were listening to CDs – the world has changed and we need to move on.”
The Tolpuddle Festival features a myriad of events over three days, including walks, talks and training sessions, yoga, performance poetry, open mics, music comedy, speeches, placard making and panel sessions. There’s a kids’ area, campaign, food, drinks and more. The banner procession includes marching bands, samba players, morris dancers and choirs alongside union banners, flags and blimps
“I would encourage all Equity members to attend next year's festival and experience first-hand the solidarity that makes Tolpuddle such a special event,” said Kye. “We leave Tolpuddle energised and committed to continuing the fight for fairness. I thank all the Equity members who attended, along with the organisers and volunteers who make the festival what it is.”
Find out more about Tolpuddle
