Midlands People’s Campaign for Jobs March 1982

Description

We see marchers at a rally holding various Trade Union banners. Musicians take to the stage for a song. Local dignitaries, including Tom Brennan, Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent and a Reverend make speeches. GTW union members change into their bright yellow ‘Midlands Peoples March’ t-shirts prior to the march. Trade unionists explain why they’re supporting the event. We see a ‘Midlands People's Campaign for Jobs’ banner. A member of the public lends her support to the campaign. A small group of trade unionists chant as they walk along the motorway. The Lord Mayor of Worcester is interviewed. A vicar gives a churchman’s view of the campaign. Trade unionists describe how this march came about. Marchers reach central Worcester and prop a banner up on a statue of Elgar. The Industrial Chaplain for Worcester speaks about his role in the campaign. A union member from Sandwell thinks the mood has changed and says marchers are not getting as much support as they’d hoped for. Women talking part in the march are interviewed. The Convenor of the GEC wishes the marchers the best of luck. The march arrives at Precinct Square Northampton. The Deputy Lord Mayor of Coventry greets them. Musicians sing a song about the Corn Laws. More interviews with marchers. A priest of St John's church in Tamworth addresses the marchers and wishes them success. Young jobseekers talk about trying to find a job - a young woman with no legs describes her experience. Collecting donations and marching through heavy traffic. Union representatives speak at a rally about GEC staff redundancies. An APEX union rep answers marchers questions. More young marchers describe the support they’ve received. Sikh supporters in Dudley explain why they’re behind the march. Marching along the edge of heavy traffic. Speeches by marchers and musicians singing at the end point of the march in Birmingham. Marchers describe the response at Longbridge and the decision not to shout “Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, Out, Out, Out”. Marchers are clapped by supporters as they reach the end of the route. Campaign banners from the Labour party and unions pass the camera as the march moves by. A marcher describes what he sees as “the shocking organisation” of the march and how it could have been made better. He sees unemployment as a “political issue”. People gather for a festival to celebrate the end of the march. A health service worker from Hereford explains why she went on the march. She goes on to talk about the first aid she’s had to administer to fellow marchers. Campaigners talk about where they go from here.

Credits

© Birmingham Trade Union Resource Centre 1982