Gloucestershire Association of Trades Union Councils banner unveiling

The Association was active with affiliated Trades Councils of Cheltenham and District, Gloucester, Stroud, Forest of Dean and Cirencester from the early 1970s until the early 1990s. It was very active in campaigning against the Government's GCHQ trade union ban and for the Gloucestershire Campaign for Jobs and Recovery in particular. It was re-formed by Cheltenham and District, Gloucester and District, and Stroud and District trades councils in June 2024. The association has since campaigned on the recent local government reorganisation in Gloucestershire, LGPS Divest, supported May Day in Stroud, and have various other campaigns and events planned.
The banner features iconic images and themes; commemorating people, places and events; paying tribute to those involved during the period when the association was previously active and honouring the county's trade unionist and working-class history.
Speakers include:

• Dave Chapple, South West TUC Joint Consultative Committee member and trades councils' representative, speaking about the role and the work of trades councils.
• Stuart Lee, graphic designer to speak about the banner design.
• Stuart Butler, poet, writer, retired teacher, historian and founder of Radical Stroud, speaking about the "1825 Stroudwater Weavers Strike and Riots".
• Gareth Morris, the last of the 14 GCHQ workers sacked for being a trade unionist, dismissed from his role as an Executive Officer in March 1989, and Quentin Tallon, former Secretary of Cheltenham and District Trades Council and former delegate to the Gloucestershire Association of Trades Councils, speaking about the "GCHQ Trade Union Ban (1984–1997)".
• Caroline Hayhurst, UNISON rep for the phlebotomists at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, speaking about their strike action since 17 March 2025 which has become the longest running strike of NHS employees in history.

With performances from:

• The Stroud Red Band, opening the event.
• Dave Rogers and Mike Bethel of Banner Theatre closing the event, performing video ballads about the 1926 General Strike.

Thanks to the following organisations who donated toward the appeal for creating the banner: Bridgwater Trades Council, Bristol Trades Council, Cheltenham and District Trades Council, Cheltenham Constituency Labour Party, Equity Bristol and West of England Branch, Fire Brigades Union South West Region, Gloucester and District Trades Council, Mendip Trades Council, National Education Union Gloucestershire Branch, Pr*son Officers' Association National, Public and Commercial Services Union National, Public and Commercial Services Union Associated and Retired Members South West, UNISON Gloucestershire Districts Health and Community Branch, UNISON Gloucestershire Local Government Branch, Unite Community Bristol, Bath and Gloucester Branch, Unite Gloucester District Branch, Unite Gloucester District Retired Members' Branch, Unite South West Health Branch, Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers Stroud, Cotswold and District Branch, Stroud and District Trades Council, Trades Union Congress and Transport Salaried Staffs' Association South East Wales General Branch.
Many thanks to Nigel Costley and Sean Cusack for ideas of what to include in the banner, Sean Cusack and Edmund Hall for providing design expertise, and Quinn Tallon and Hugh Lanning for providing information about the history of the trades councils and their previous campaigns. Credit to Sean Cusack for allowing use of the GCHQ trade unions satellite dish logo and to Clifford Harper for allowing use of the Warren James illustration.
Special thanks to Stuart Lee, Paul Harding and Pip Finch for designing the banner.

Info: Pre-event food and drink provided.

Info: The Stroud Red Band to open the event.

Info: Dave Chapple: South West TUC Joint Consultative Committee member and trades council's rep) to introduce the event by speaking about trades councils.

Info: Stuart Lee: graphic designer who designed the banner to speak about the banner design.

Info: Stuart Butler: poet, writer, retired teacher, historian and founder of Radical Stroud, speaking about the "1825 Stroudwater Weavers Strike".

Info: Gareth Morris: the last of the 14 GCHQ workers sacked for being a trade unionist, dismissed from his role as an Executive Officer in March 1989. Quentin Tallon: former Secretary of Cheltenham and District Trades Council, speaking about the "GCHQ trade union ban (1984–1997)".

Info: Caroline Hayhurst: UNISON rep for the phlebotomists at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), speaking about their strike action since 17 March 2025 which has become the longest running strike of NHS employees in history.

Info: Questions and answers from the panel followed by a group picture of attendees next to the banner.

Info: Dave Rogers and Mike Bethel of Banner Theatre closing the event, performing video ballads about the 1926 General Strike.

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Host or Publisher Cheltenham and District Trades Union Council