https://workingclasshistory.com/about/
Supporting working-class history.
This branch believes that:
- For years there have been concerted attacks by successive governments and elements of the media on the accurate teaching of history, and in particular the teaching of people’s history, and the history of ordinary people and our role in transforming society. For example:
o OCR’s A-Level History textbook, Britain 1930-1997, which deemphasised the rise of the welfare state by beginning its postwar Britain module in 1951
o 2020 guidance to schools on PSHE categorising anti-capitalism as
an “extreme political stance” (alongside racism and antisemitism) which
must not be included on syllabi
o Cuts to arts and humanities departments at UK universities, particularly affecting modules and courses on British histories of race and imperialism
o Relentless right-wing culture wars on everything from the National Trust’s ‘woke’ history, universities “cancelling national heroes”, and false claims that the German Nazi Party was “very left-wing” - As well as fighting for the immediate interests of their members, it is the role of trade unions to educate their members on the history of workers’ struggles, and campaigns for progressive social change more generally.
- Such education on past struggles better equips union members and activists to organise and win struggles today.
This branch notes that: - Working Class History (WCH) has been producing reliable, well-sourced, and accessible historical content for over a decade, being described as “alternatively delivered academic content”.
- WCH’s work extends to multimedia content on a range of social media
platforms, longer-form podcasts, an interactive map, and a number of copublished books. - On a minuscule budget, WCH has successfully amassed a following of over 1.7 million people, reaching an audience of 15-25 million per month across multiple platforms.
- Through their oral history podcast, WCH have produced dozens of episodes on topics including miners’ strikes in 1972, 74, and 84-85, the building workers’ strike of 1972, the Grunwick strike of Asian women workers in 1976, and many more.
- Through their interactive online map, WCH have erected thousands of virtual historical markers to working-class people and working-class movements and campaigns all over the world, many of which would never have official markers erected.
- In addition to being followed by over a million workers, WCH has been praised by a number of leading figures in the trade union movement, including:
a. Matt Wrack (FBU General Secretary, TUC President, personal
capacity): “Our history is important. The lessons from earlier struggles can guide us in organising to change the world. The daily reminders from Working Class History can encourage us to read, study and discuss the lessons of the past.”
b. Maxine Peake (actor and member of Equity, personal
capacity): “Working Class History is just magnificent!! Reminding and
informing us daily of our working-class history and the extraordinary
‘ordinary’ people who have risked and sacrificed their lives in the fight
against fascism and tyranny. WCH is a constant source of inspiration. The power of solidarity against corruption in power. Studying our past is imperative for a fairer and just future and there is no better place to start that education!”
c. Dave Smith (Blacklist Support Group Secretary, personal
capacity): “Political education beyond the workplace is essential for
anyone wanting to play an active role in the struggle for emancipation
from corporate power. We learn from the past. This is why Working Class History is such a great resource for anyone interested in labour movement from around the world. I’ve been an active trade unionist for over 40 years. As a union tutor and labour movement historian, I teach social history to union activists every day of the week. The Working Class History project repeatedly teaches me aspects of history that I’ve never even heard of before. I can’t commend it enough.”
This branch resolves:
- In addition to being followed by over a million workers, WCH has been praised by a number of leading figures in the trade union movement, including:
- To become a Supporter/Solidarity Supporter of WCH, and donate £200 in 2025.
Proposer: Tzu Chien Tho
Seconder: Fraser McQueen