Wapping - 25 years on
19 April 2011
Wapping - one of the key industrial disputes of the Thatcher
era, when 5,550 production and clerical workers were sacked by
Rupert Murdoch overnight – is being marked by a 25th anniversary
exhibition in London.
It was in January 1986 that News International – owners of The
Times, Sunday Times, The Sun and News of the World – sacked
thousands of its staff when it moved its operations to Wapping in
East London.
The exhibition highlighting the 13-month struggle that the
employees staged to save their jobs and protect trade union rights
will be held at the Marx Memorial Library at 37a Clerkenwell
Green, London EC1R 0DU from 1 May and will run for a
month.
Dramatic images, photographs and accounts of the dispute - when
Rupert Murdoch used his vast wealth, aided by the Conservatives’
anti-union legislation to facilitate the dash to Wapping - will be
on display.
Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey, said: ”The industrial
disputes involving the print unions in the 1980s, starting with the
Stockport Messenger and culminating with News International at
Wapping were, along with the miners, sustained blows against
organised labour in the UK that the Conservative victory in 1979
had of course heralded, but the seriousness of which was little
realised.
”We must take inspiration from the struggle at Wapping, not to
mournfully look backwards, but to redouble our efforts to organise
and to win for working people in this country as they face
tremendous challenges to their living standards and rights, yet
again from a right-wing government.
”So too must we seek to remind the Labour party that only a firm
commitment to introduce a new framework of employment law and trade
union rights will make this country fully compliant with our
international obligations, and put working people in this country
on the same footing as their counterparts across Europe.”
The multi-media exhibition has been organised by Unite, the
National Union of Journalists, Campaign for Press and Broadcasting
Freedom and the Marx Memorial Library. For opening hours, please
ring 020 7253 1485 and/or www.marx-memorial-library.org
ENDS
Notes to news editors:
There will be a press preview of the exhibition at the Marx
Memorial Library, 37a Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0DU between
3.00 and 5.00pm on Thursday, 28 April.
Should you wish to attend as a member of the media, please
contact either Ann Field on 07831 676587 or Tim Gopsill on 020 7274
9007 or Barry White on 07774 607419
For further information please contact Unite communications
officer Shaun Noble on 07768 693940
