International Brigades remembered

The annual commemoration by the IBMT for the 2500 volunteers from Great Britain and Ireland who went to Spain to fight fascism and support democracy between 1936 and 1939, was held at the International Brigades memorial, Jubilee Gardens, South Bank, London on 5th July 2014.
    300 people gathered on London's South Bank to commemorate the men and women from Great Britain and Ireland who went to Spain to support the Spanish Republic - 526 British and Irish volunteers died. They were part of International Brigades - 35,000 men and women from over 50 countries - who went to Spain to support the Spanish Republic, oppose fascism and stand up for democracy.

Resistance to austerity knows no boundaries

Allison Kilkenny, writing on The Nation blog, provides an excellent round up of anti austerity protests in Greece, Portugal and Spain - all three countries are facing high unemployment, rising poverty.and acute social tensions as severe public expenditure cuts kick in:
http://www.thenation.com/blog/173275/global-austerity-resistance-continues#

Mass protests in Spain against health care privatisation

Mass protests took place in 16 Spanish cities yesterday as public opposition mounts to the part privatisation of health and welfare services. 'Public health is not to be sold, it’s to be defended' was the theme of the demonstrations against Government proposals to hive off services as part of the right wing Spanish Government's austerity measures:
http://www.salon.com/2013/02/17/big_protests_in_spain_against_health_care_reforms/

Massive Anti-Austerity protests in Spain and Portugal

Union-led national demonstrations took place yesterday in Madrid and Lisbon as hundreds of thousands of workers protested against austerity measures including pay cuts and increased taxes. "We want to say loud and clear to the government that we do not agree, that its policies cause too much damage, that we will not resign ourselves because there are alternatives," said Ignacio Toxo, leader of Spain’s CCOO union federation. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19611375

International Brigades Commemoration 7 July - Video

A video of the IBMT commemoration held in London on 7 July including stirring anti-fascist words from former UNISON General Secretary Rodney Bickerstaffe and excellent music: http://www.youtube.com/user/IBMTnews

Spain rises up against austerity

Trade union led mass protests were held in over 80 Spanish cities and towns on Thursday evening. Hundreds of thousands protested as Parliament approved a further €65 billion of austerity cuts and tax rises. "The new cuts harm the weakest sectors of society without one single measure that involves any effort by companies and the highest earners," said the CCOO Spain’s largest union confederation
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/20/us-spain-protests-idUSBRE86I1HZ20120720

Spanish civil war heroes remembered

On Saturday the International Brigade Memorial Trust (IBMT) annual commemoration took place at the International Brigade memorial in Jubilee Gardens, London.
Here are two photographs from the event, including one of International Brigade veteran David Lomon, 93, being presented with a Spanish Republican flag by Almudena Cros of the Madrid-based Friends of the International Brigades. Rodney Bickerstaffe reminded those present that in 1936 the Spanish republican government boycotted the Berlin Olympics because they "knew what the Nazis were about".
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/121172

Songs from Blantyre to Barcelona

Songs of the Scottish anti-fascists and International Brigade: Original songs written and performed by the Lanarkshire Songwriters Group to commemorate the International Brigade’s struggle against Spanish Fascism and those from Blantyre and Lanarkshire who fell in the struggle.
Copies only £3 from local outlets and UNISON South Lanarkshire Branch 01698 454690

General strike in Spain over attacks on workers' rights

Spain's main union CCOO and UGT are holding a general strike today against new employment laws which will make it cheaper and easier for employers to sack workers. Tomorrow the Conservative Government will announce an austerity budget which will cut tens of billions of euros from public services. All municipal and state services will be affected by the strike including public transport:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17545174

GOODBYE BARCELONA - special offer to union members

Goodbye Barcelona, is a new musical inspired by the International Brigades, who fought against fascism during the Spanish Civil War - and union members a special discounted rate of £10 a seat for the run of the show.

GOODBYE BARCELONA World Premiere - special offer to Union members

Goodbye Barcelona, is a new musical which celebrates the International Brigades, who fought against fascism during the Spanish Civil War. Many of the volunteers in the International Brigades were trade unionists, including the great Jack Jones, and the unions supported the Brigaders against the prevailing tide of opinion, and were an integral part of the fight against fascism from the Spanish Civil War through to today.
Union members are being offered a special discounted rate during the run of the show as well as on the Gala night on 25th November. This is the World Premiere of the show, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the formation of the Brigades.

Wembley remembers la Quinta Brigada

Last night during the two minute’s silence before the England v Spain international, it was good to see a fan’s poster commemorating the International Brigades on their 75th anniversary:
http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/XV_International
_Brigade

Mission accomplished for International Brigade cycle tour

East London Advertiser reports on the National Clarion Cycling Club’s­ reception in Cable Street last weekend following a 645 mile cycle ride in honour of the International Brigade - which had set off from Edinburgh on September 19:

Cyclists to mark International Brigades' 75th anniversary

A group of cyclists will set off from Edinburgh next Monday (19 September) for a tour of Britain and Ireland to remember the volunteers from the British Isles who joined the International Brigades.

Organised by the National Clarion Cycling Club 1895 (NCCC), the IBMT-supported ride will mark the 75th anniversary of the formation of the International Brigades in October 1936 to fight General Franco’s fascist-backed revolt against the Spanish Republic. http://www.international-brigades.org.uk/

75 years ago ‘They shall not pass’: Fighting back against fascism

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the start of organised mass resistance to fascism by the British people. It was in 1936 when hundreds of men and women began making the journey to Spain to join the International Brigades to oppose General Franco’s fascist-backed rebellion.

Joan Miró: The Ladder of Escape

Tate Modern in London has a retrospective exhibition of the works of the Catalonian painter Joan Miró running through the summer from 14th April until 11th September. One theme of the exhibition is the 'political engagement' of his work during the Spanish Civil War and the World Wars. The exhibition also shows later works from the long period of the Franco regime when Miro refused to contribute to or accept involvement with the dictator or his state and saw his role as "... untying of all oppressions, all prejudices and all false established values..."

Social and economic agreement in Spain

Spanish Union federations UGT and CCOO last week signed a social and economic tripartite agreement with the Spanish Government and employers' organizations CEOE-CEPYME.

Remembering the International Brigades‏

Glasgow memorial

At UNISON's recent international seminar in Liverpool, North West regional secretary Frank Hont told delegates about his involvement in the International Brigade Memorial Trust (IBMT), and why the legacy of those who fought fascism in Spain over 70 years ago is still relevant today: http://www.unison.org.uk/international/pages_view.asp?did=12022

Bick backs strikers in Spain

Past UNISON General Secretary Rodney Bickerstaffe joined pickets today in the Spanish General Strike.

Solid start to General Strike in Spain‏

Early reports from Spain indicate an overwhelming response to the general gtrike called in opposition to austerity measures introduced by the Zapatero-led Government. Unions started the general strike by marching through Madrid and other cities. The BBC reports that there has been mass picketing outside bus and metro stations since midnight.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11432579