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Betty Gallacher

Standing Up For All Workers

 

“Oi you! I need a word with you”.
It might not be at the cutting edge of political dialogue but it was a wonderful means of communicating for Betty Gallacher; for Betty

Debbie Wilkinson

Interview by Mark Metcalf

 

In brief, Debbie talks about her upbringing and from which she acquires a rudimentary knowledge of trade unions from visiting the Durham Miners’ Gala as a youngster and then later as Co-op Bank employee.

 

Fares Please!

An Oral History of London Bus Workers

By Digital Works

 

This project is an oral history of the workers on the iconic London Bus, exploring the lives of drivers, conductors, cleaners, mechanics and designers.

Abdul Tan Rashid

Interview by Mark Metcalf

 

My name is Abdul Tanveer Rashid and I am known as Tan.

I was born in Middlesbrough Parkside Hospital in December in the year 1978.  My parents were both born in Pakistan with my dad coming to England as a child in 1963 and my mother arriving after marrying my dad in 1976.

 

Mohammad Taj

Steering From The Front

 

Elected TUC President on 11 September 2013, the first Muslim and the first South Asian President, Mohammad Taj’s story is an incredible journey. When thousands of people saw Taj’s photo which featured in a poster campaign by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, this is what they read :

“My name is Mohammad Taj. I am an immigrant. For 40 years I have been a bus driver and committed trade unionist fighting for the rights of ordinary working people” Foreword By Diana Holland Unite Assistant General Secretary for Transport and Equalities, Executive Board member of the ITF – International Transport Workers Federation.

Jacob Goddard

Interview by Mark Metcalf

 

Barrow born Jacob Goddard speaks about why he became an active Unite member within Barclays in Leeds at a relatively young age. 

After completing his degree, Jacob had difficulty in finding permanent work and he describes precarious employment experiences in various Leeds call centres where he witnessed people getting made redundant without due process as there was no union to represent workers.

 

Betty Tebbs

A Radical Working Class Hero

 

I am immensely proud that Unite has published this biography of the legendary Betty Tebbs. It is based on an original autobiography (unpublished), which she gave to Unite. Born at the end of First World War, Betty became an activist in one of Unite’s legacy unions, the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers, which later became SOGAT and eventually the GPMU. As a young woman Betty worked in the papermaking industry in East Lancashire. It was in this industry she began her work as a union activist, eventually becoming a highly respected Mother of the Chapel (the print industry term for a woman Senior Shop Steward). Foreword By Len McCluskey.