The Courtaulds Red Scar Mill strike, 1965
Submitted by Ed on Jan 17 2019 22:55
A short history of the unofficial strike at Courtauld's Red Scar Mill in Preston, 1965, the first of what would become a long list of significant 'migrant strikes' (such as Mansfield Hosiery in 1972, Standard Telephones and Cables in 1973, Imperial Typewriters in 1974 and, of course, Grunwick in 1976).
Spanish anti-fascist ‘prisoners of war’ in Lancashire, 1944–46
Submitted by Anonymous on Oct 10 2018 14:26
Fascinating and detailed paper by Richard Cleminson examining the appalling treatment of Spanish anti-fascist resistance fighters during World War II being detained in internment camps in Britain alongside Nazi and fascist prisoners.
The Luddites: machine-breaking in regency England
Submitted by Anonymous on Nov 3 2016 23:00
A historical overview and analysis of the Luddite movement 1811-1816 which swept parts of the UK as workers smashed machines to defend their jobs, pay and conditions.
Mail order millions - Paul Bolton
'Mail Order Millions' was written by Paul Bolton and published by Solidarity (North West) - the first pamphlet they issued, analysing the mail order retail business in the region. It's undated but came out before the first issue of the Solidarity (North West) magazine in the latter part of 1969.
The road to Wigan Pier - George Orwell
Orwell's examinations of the conditions for the working class in the north of England prior to World War Two and how he became a socialist.
Stakhanovism and the British workers
Submitted by wojtek on Nov 11 2012 16:50
Marie Louise Berneri's article on Stakhanovism and other methods imposed on workers in order to squeeze more productivity and profit out of them for the Soviet and British war economies. Written in 1942 and reprinted in The Left and World War 2: Selections from the Anarchist Journal 'War Commentary' 1939-1943.
There is blood on your hands Mr. Lawson!
Submitted by wojtek on Oct 18 2012 15:47
A Freedom article on Agustin Soler's suicide on 11th July, 1945, and the then Labour government's policy of interning anti-fascists.
The Lancashire coalfield 1945-1972: NUM-Labour Party hegemony and industrial change
Submitted by wojtek on Apr 10 2012 22:53
An article by Stephen Catterall on the colliery closures of the fifties and sixties in the Lancashire region and the relationship between the NUM and the Labour Party.
