The Working Class Movement Library will celebrate International Women’s Day on Saturday 8 March from 2pm with talks on women activists from the late 19th century to the present day. The event is free and open to all.
June Hannam, Professor of History at the University of West of England, will speak on the topic ‘Socialist women of the Independent Labour Party – political propagandists and trade union organisers, 1890s-1914’.
Her talk will consider how socialist women highlighted the specific issues and inequalities facing working women and will explore the different, and often competing, strategies they put forward for improving their social and economic position, including trade union organisation and the vote.
Lynn Collins, Regional Secretary North West TUC, will also speak, on the topic ‘The struggle continues – trade union women today’.
This event is part of Wonder Women: Radical Manchester.
The Library is open to the public on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons. At other times visitors are welcome to make appointments to view or use the collection. Admission to the library is free. The Web site also offers a way to find out more about this unique collection – see www.wcml.org.uk for details. Follow the Library on Twitter at @wcmlibrary, and on Facebook.