Fownhope’s Heart of Oak Society traces its roots to the age of friendly societies, when communities provided their own safety net. Its anniversary celebrations reveal a tradition still very much alive, says MARK SEDDON
COULD this be a turning point for workers? It feels like we are at a cusp at the moment, a point at which the old world order is dying and something new is waiting to be born.
On one hand we are seeing relentless attacks by employers, but on the other we are seeing big increases in the number of people joining trade unions.
The actions of companies such as Douwe Egberts are nothing short of scandalous and they are by no means alone.
One hundred years after 1.7m workers shut the country down in defence of the miners, the struggles that sparked the 1926 General Strike are still with us – and will be honoured on London’s May Day march this year, writes MARY ADOSSIDES
Solidarity is needed for the longest strike in NHS history, argues HENRY FOWLER of Strike Map
Since 2023, Strike Map has evolved from digital mapping at a national level to organising ‘mega pickets’ — we believe that mass solidarity with localised disputes prepares the ground for future national action, writes HENRY FOWLER
This ‘Big Meet’ our focus is building the next ‘Megapicket,’ say HENRY FOWLER and GAWAIN LITTLE of the General Federation of Trade Unions


