Before sunrise on the 24th February 1834 farm worker George Loveless left for work; it would be 3 years before he would be back with his wife and children again.
George, and five fellow workers – James Brine, James Hammett, James Loveless, John Standfield and Thomas Standfield—were arrested, charged with making an illegal oath, and transported to Australia. They only returned following a public outcry over their treatment. Though the real reason for their treatment was that they had taken a stand against poor pay and wage cuts by forming a trade union.
To commemorate the 190th anniversary of the arrest of George Loveless and the Tolpuddle Martyrs the Unite Tolpuddle Branch, which represents food, drink, agricultural and transport workers across Dorset, will be holding a free event in the Village Hall.
The Martyrs Arrest 190 event will be a chance to hear speakers highlight the links between the Martyrs story and the experience of workers today and listen to music from local socialist choir Dorset Red and singer-songwriter Neil Duncan-Jordan.
Unite event organisers are also in touch with a project in Canada, where most of the arrested Martyrs settled after gaining their freedom, that is in the process of restoring George Loveless grave in his final resting place of London, Ontario. It is hoped that this group will talk about the project via Zoom.
Former farmworker and Unite Branch Chair John Burbidge said: “The arrests were calculated to create fear and isolation after pay cuts that left workers unable to feed and house their families. Today the government is using the law again to stop workers from resisting the massive hit to our living standards for the sake of the same unbridled greed of the same class.”
Unite South West Deputy Regional Secretary Donna Williams will be speaking at the event and said: “As we reflect on the Tolpuddle Martyrs legacy, the struggles of the past continue to resonate with the challenges workers face today as we continue to fight for jobs, pay and conditions.”
The event takes place in Tolpuddle Village Hall on Saturday 24th Feb from 12.30 to 3.00 pm.
For more information, please contact Unite Branch Officer Alan Daniels [email protected]
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