UCS Anniversary in the media - part 2

In addition to the references in the post on this topic on 30/09/11 the main broadcast media have published material following the concert. BBC Scotland ran a piece on Sunday's Politics Show, and have a report on the concert on their website.

STV have a nice piece 'Voices from UCS' with interviews with UCS stewards.

UCS concert hits the note for the future as well as the past.

The mournful moan of a cello, and the sharp clang of hammers introduced Work-in at UCS, the premiere of a brass and traditional instrument suite written especially for this 40^th anniversary concert, by prominent Scottish composer, Eddie McGuire. The eclectic mix of instruments signalled the variety of the concert put together by Musical Directors, Rab Noakes and Hilary Brooks. Ranging from Elaine C Smith reading Alienation, Jimmy Reid’s Rectorial address to Glasgow University, through a short film, the rock of Kevin McDermott’s Where we were meant to be, the funk of Pat Kane, Clive Langer and Elvis Costello’s Shipbuilding - heartbreakingly sung by rising talent, Simone Welsh, interwoven with the traditional folk and political song of Greenmantle, Alastair McDonald, Jimmie Macgregor, Dick Gaughan and Arthur Johnstone, the evening was held together with wit and competence by Dave Anderson.

Many of these ‘review’ style shows can founder, and one element or another can drag. Not this one. You get the impression that even Pat Kane was given the instructions ‘two songs then off’! The three hour show moved along at a cracking pace, and managed to touch all the bases. Even the political speeches - from Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon and veteran campaigner, Tony Benn - hit the right note, stressing the importance of the work-in historically, and, in Benn’s case, the lessons that campaigners today need to learn from then. He was rightly, the guest of honour and received the evening’s only standing ovation.

There were surprises. Who knew that Jimmie Macgregor had such a political side? The house band itself was a revelation, consisting of such diverse talents as Rab Noakes, Eddie McGuire, Fraser Speirs, Hilary and Lorna Brooks. They coped with the range of talent in front of them brilliantly. 

The film is well worth a broader distribution (it currently forms part of the exhibition taking place in Glasgow’s Mitchell Library). Its ten minutes narrated by David Hayman, sum up the work-in and include some cracking clips of both Reid and Airlie. The STUC’s Kevin Buchanan rightly claims credit for its direction.

This anniversary has been driven by the veterans of the Shop Stewards Co-ordinating Committee, who commissioned event organisers FairPley to devise the programme. Many of the veterans were presented with commemorative badges by Unite Scottish Secretary, Pat Rafferty (Unite deserve huge plaudits for funding the series of events). This concert was planned as the key event - it did not let them down.

As the finale rendition of Your Daughters and your Sons rang out, it summed up the work-in’s importance for the future of the labour movement, and the struggle to defend the rights that they (amongst others) won for us.

UCS Anniversary in the media

The 40th anniversary of the UCS work-in has been well marked in the press in Scotland. In addition to the detailed feature in last Wednesday's Morning Star, the Sunday Mail has given the events the best show.

Last month the newspaper ran an exclusive interview with Guest of Honour, Tony Benn. Tony pointed out the link between today's campaigning and the workers who fought for the retention of shipbuilding on the upper Clyde 40 years ago.

Last weekend the paper tracked down work-in cartoonist Bob Starrett, currently resident in Los Angeles and ran another story on the impact that Jimmy's Reid and Airlie made, standing head and shoulders above the Hollywood stars that Bob subsequently worked with.

Other papers have also referred to the anniversary. The Herald covered the launch of the events. The Daily Record did a piece on the Scottish Parliament debate and reception, as did the Herald.

The BBC broadcast an 'Archive on 4' history  at the end of August, and GMS had an interview with Tony Benn this morning.

More obscure sites covering the events include Footstompin - a Scottish music site - specifically on Eddie McGuire's new composition, and maritime news/history site gCaptain.

Exhibition features wealth of UCS archives

This release from late last week, highlights the opening of an exhibition being staged at the Mitchell Library foyer (Granville Street entrance) on the work-in. It uses exhibition panels produced for the 30th Anniversary and archive material from the Glasgow University, and Glasgow Caledonian University archives, to tell the story of the work-in, how the organisers communicated their cause inside and outside the yards, and the public response to the work-in.

It will run for the next two weeks. Given the obvious parallels between the political position we are now in, and the political position the stewards in UCS faced, there are many ideas that activists and members in our unions and communities can take on board. Also illuminating - not least for the clips of contemporary speeches from Jimmy's Reid and Airlie - is the short film accompanying the exhibition. Stick the cans on for ten minutes and give it a go!

The parallels are also being brought into sharp focus by the organising of a major demonstration by the STUC on the same day as the UCS 40 Anniversary Gala Concert (October 1). This is part of their 'There is a Better way' campaign and unites trade unions and a host of community groups in a march from Glasgow Green (assemble 11.30 am) to Kelvingrove Park. The Rally there, will be addressed by Tony Benn who will later be the Guest of Honour at the Concert, in the Mitchell Theatre.

20 September 2011                         For Information and Immediate Release 

The next phase of the events planned to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of the UCS work-in will be an exhibition of material selected from the UCS work-in archives, that will open at the Mitchell Library on Thursday 22 September 2011. 

It will be opened at 6.00pm by well-known folk singer, author, broadcaster and entertainer, Jimmie Macgregor. Jimmie was a prominent supporter of the work-in at the time, and also features on the programme for the Gala Concert planned for 1 October this year. The exhibition, which is planned to run for two weeks from Friday 23 September, is timed to coincide with that 40^th Anniversary Concert, taking place in the Mitchell Theatre. Both the exhibition and the concert are funded by Unite the union, the inheritor of many of the members of unions involved in the work-in.

Shop Steward and UCS Co-ordinating Committee member, Jimmy Cloughley said

“It is important that the material stored in the archives in Glasgow and Caledonian Universities is seen by as many people as possible. The significance of the UCS work-in to todays struggles, is now being widely recognised. The fightback against the economic attacks on working people can learn many lessons from UCS.”

The material on display includes; contemporary cartoons by Bobby Starrett - the work-in’s own cartoonist - publicity material produced by the stewards to spread the word about the work-in and some of the public responses including a replica of the card attached to the bunch of roses sent to the work-in by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. It also features some of the exhibition panels produced ten years ago by Govan Workspace to mark the 30^th Anniversary. 

Much of the material will also feature in an audio-visual presentation that has been compiled to allow the exhibition material to be circulated more widely.

Guest of Honour at the concert will be Tony Benn, the former Labour Minister who set up the UCS consortium, and became a prominent supporter of the work-in. Other artistes playing include Pat Kane; Jimmie Macgregor; Dave Anderson; Arthur Johnstone; Elaine C Smith; Rab Noakes; Fraser Speirs; Kevin McDermott; Simone Welsh;  Well-known folk singer, Dick Gaughan has also been added to the guest list.

The work-in started in 1971 when the then Tory government removed funding from the UCS yards and planned to close and sell them off. This provoked the Stewards Co-ordinating Committee to declare a ‘work-in’ which attracted huge support from Scotland, the rest of the UK, and around the world.

ENDS

Tony Benn to headline UCS 40 Anniversary Concert

This is the launch press release, sent out at the beginning of August. Since this was issued the line-up for the concert has changed slightly. Gary Lewis is mortified that he cannot now attend, but Elaine C Smith and Dick Gaughan have added their names to the list. Public tickets sold out for the concert at the beginning of September, but a waiting list has been established to redistribute any returns. If you want to join that list please email swright@fairpley.com .

Other events organised have been, a debate in the Scottish Parliament, on a motion submitted by Hugh Henry MSP and debated on the 15 September. This was followed by a reception in the Parliament.

An exhibition has also been curated, and will be opened by prominent Scottish entertainer, Jimmie Macgregor on Thursday 22 September.

Another development is the organising of  major 'People First' demonstration by the STUC on the morning of October 1. The link between the struggle of the Clydeside shipbuilders to save their industry and community, and the struggle to save public services by trade unions and community groups today is thus neatly juxtaposed on October 1!

29 July 2011 Not For Release before Mon 1 August

Shop Stewards who were part of the UCS Work-In in the shipyards of Glasgow and Clydebank today announced a series of events organised to mark the 40^th anniversary of the famous industrial dispute. 

The main event planned is a Gala Concert on Sat 1 October in the Mitchell Theatre where Tony Benn will be the Guest of Honour. He was the Labour Minister who created the UCS consortium in 1968 and a prominent supporter of the Work-In when in opposition. He will be backed by a line up of Scottish talent, some of whom played in fund raising concerts at the time. A specially commissioned suite ‘Work-in at UCS’ composed by Eddie McGuire, the prominent Scottish composer will also feature.

Jimmy Cloughley, a member of the UCS Co-ordinating Committee said

“The stewards who took part in the work-in felt that, following the deaths of two of the main leaders, Jimmy Airlie and Jimmy Reid, it was important to mark the 40 Anniversary positively. It is important when working people face increasing attacks on their jobs and conditions, to remember a successful struggle against a Tory Government bent on on butchering them. The community and country supported us. We righted a wrong,and it must never be forgotten. Unity of purpose, honesty, information leadership and democracy are the lessons of UCS.”

The list of artistes includes Pat Kane; Jimmie McGregor; Dave Anderson; Arthur Johnstone; Rab Noakes; Gary Lewis; Fraser Speirs; Kevin McDermott; Simone Welsh; The Whistlebinkies; Alba Brass and Sax Ecosse. There will also be a number of yet-to-be-announced special guests.

In addition to the concert, an exhibition about the Work-In will open in the Mitchell Library on 24 September, and showings of contemporary films shot in the yard during the Work-In are planned. The events will be mostly funded by a grant from Unite the union

The Work-In took place in 1971 when the then Tory government removed funding from the UCS yards and planned to close and sell them off. This provoked the Stewards Co-ordinating Committee to declare a ‘work-in’ which attracted huge support from Scotland, the rest of the UK, and around the world.

ENDS