Guildhall clock to turn red as Derry celebrates workers’ rights

Due to government guidelines around COVID-19, the events originally scheduled to take place were cancelled, and instead Council have taken the programme digital. It kicked off yesterday and will run until May Day.

DCSDC Museum Service is presenting a programme which includes guest online lectures and talks from Professor John Barry, Dr. Adrian Grant and Dr. Máirtín Ó Catháin.

The speakers will touch on subjects such as the history of trade unionism and civil rights, climate change, key local figures such as James McCarron, and the Blind Workers’ Struggle in Derry from 1928 –1940.

During the week, the Museum will also launch their new Social Justice & Trade Unionism Loan Box, packed with resources to engage school children and youth and stimulate civic conversation about rights and responsibilities in the work place as well as creating an awareness of contemporary issues in our society today. There will also be an opportunity for the public to engage and virtually access collections and archives online, as well as sharing their own stories through various museum initiatives such as ‘A Day in the Life – Curating the Contemporary - Covid19’.

The programme also includes a reading from local playwright Dave Duggan’s The Recruiting Office, Songs of the Workers music events, poetry readings and family banner and noise maker workshops, as well as discussions and activity on artists’ pay, conditions and support networks.

It will all culminate with a series of events on Friday May 1, when the Derry Trades Union Council will launch their Workers’ Charter and the Guildhall clock and Council building will be lit up red.

The Derry Trades Union Council is asking the public to take part in the ‘Time for Noise for Workers Rights’ campaign at 6pm, asking people to make five minutes of noise and to hang out red flags and banners showing support for workers for 24 hours.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Michaela Boyle said: “Now more than ever before we are seeing just how important a role our workers play, and particularly those who are currently on the frontline – our healthcare staff, carers, pharmacists, delivery drivers, supermarket staff and so many others.

“Initiatives like this show them that we support them. They deserve to be celebrated, thanked and properly acknowledged for their selfless actions at this time.”