Durham Miners Gala



Voice of fair play said:
It's lost it's real purpose which was community spirit and togethness

Back in the day was a outing of real purpose and community spirit, dont thing that is the case now.

Don't mean to be disrepectful, but there is simply no point to it now
Click to expand...
I've just been reading how a group have restored or remade the Pelton Fell Colliery banners they've organised a bus to get them all to Durham to march with it then on the night they're having a reunion in a local boozer, sounds like Community Spirit to me
 
Voice of fair play said:
It's lost it's real purpose which was community spirit and togethness

Back in the day was a outing of real purpose and community spirit, dont thing that is the case now.

Don't mean to be disrepectful, but there is simply no point to it now
Click to expand...

Read the link I posted on Page 1 - it's very relevant now.

For the trade union and socialist movement, there's still massive injustice in this country, austerity is still in effect, so therefore it has as much importance now as it ever did.
 
Sandboy said:
I've just been reading how a group have restored or remade the Pelton Fell Colliery banners they've organised a bus to get them all to Durham to march with it then on the night they're having a reunion in a local boozer, sounds like Community Spirit to me
Click to expand...

Good to know mate, that's champion and good to hear that's what it should be about,sadly don't think the majority attending will be doing the same.
 
brandon said:
Read the link I posted on Page 1 - it's very relevant now.

For the trade union and socialist movement, there's still massive injustice in this country, austerity is still in effect, so therefore it has as much importance now as it ever did.
Click to expand...

That's where we disagree mate, I always thought of it as families of hardworking pitman getting together to celebrate their community.

It was a celebration not a protest of injustice.

It's not relevant at all now, because if you think the government of today will taken any notice of it you sadly mistaken.

It's nowhere near as important now as it was when the pits were open.
 
Voice of fair play said:
That's where we disagree mate, I always thought of it as families of hardworking pitman getting together to celebrate their community.

It was a celebration not a protest of injustice.

It's not relevant at all now, because if you think the government of today will taken any notice of it you sadly mistaken.

It's nowhere near as important now as it was when the pits were open.
Click to expand...

Fair enough mate, it's different for me I guess because I was born after the pit closed in my village. I still get a large sense of pride marching with the banner though, for me it's about keeping alive the memory and the spirit of what the miners stood for.

So I see it more as a socialist movement than anything else. The ideals of the solidarity of the miners that made the trade unions thrive is clearly still alive today - arguably more than at any time in my life - and it's good to celebrate that.

It's evolved I think, but for the better in my humble opinion.
 
brandon said:
Fair enough mate, it's different for me I guess because I was born after the pit closed in my village. I still get a large sense of pride marching with the banner though, for me it's about keeping alive the memory and the spirit of what the miners stood for.

So I see it more as a socialist movement than anything else. The ideals of the solidarity of the miners that made the trade unions thrive is clearly still alive today - arguably more than at any time in my life - and it's good to celebrate that.

It's evolved I think, but for the better in my humble opinion.
Click to expand...

Totally see your first point mate, always nice to look back with pride and be proud of the past.

Problems with the trade unions which is totally changing the subject, is a lot of people representing them are out for their own gain or to cause trouble, rather than truly representing the workers which should be their first priority IMO, well in my experience of the workplace there's how I have seen it.
 
Voice of fair play said:
Totally see your first point mate, always nice to look back with pride and be proud of the past.

Problems with the trade unions which is totally changing the subject, is a lot of people representing them are out for their own gain or to cause trouble, rather than truly representing the workers which should be their first priority IMO, well in my experience of the workplace there's how I have seen it.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately you will get that.

My own union rep is an absolute diamond, but some of his bosses seem not to give a fuck. They're more politician than activist, whereas the rep is genuine. Probably because he's on the same level as the workers and so he feels it more closely.

I would say though, that the Big Meeting is about celebrating that side of the TU's, which is what they're ultimately about. You'll get bad apples in any outfit. The term champagne socialist will apply to some, but the ideology of a TU is something I feel everyone should support. Anyone who doesn't support the idea of workers rights or the Trade Union movement is quite frankly, a bit of a twat. Or Tory. So the same, basically ;)
 
brandon said:
Unfortunately you will get that.

My own union rep is an absolute diamond, but some of his bosses seem not to give a fuck. They're more politician than activist, whereas the rep is genuine. Probably because he's on the same level as the workers and so he feels it more closely.

I would say though, that the Big Meeting is about celebrating that side of the TU's, which is what they're ultimately about. You'll get bad apples in any outfit. The term champagne socialist will apply to some, but the ideology of a TU is something I feel everyone should support. Anyone who doesn't support the idea of workers rights or the Trade Union movement is quite frankly, a bit of a twat. Or Tory. So the same, basically ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah agree you must have workers rights and some workers are treated disgracefully nowadays.

And could not agree with you more that the trade union movement is imperative, just sadly IMO of working the last 25 years most of the union reps I have come across are the lazy workers and in some case just awkward for awkward sake because there in a position to do so.

But could not agree more with your bigger picture point that workers rights is of the utmost importance.
 
This forum seems to be rather conservative, insular and sneering in its outlook.

I find that odd for a Sunderland-focussed message board. I can only assume misplaced snobbery is inflamed hidden by anonymous usernames.

The Miners Gala is a wonderful day. Steeped in tradition and retains a message and a purpose.
 

Back
Top