GMB, the Reading Trades Union
Council and Unite the Union
would like to invite you to the
Centenary Picnic of the 1916 Huntley & Palmers’ Women’s Strike
Date & Time: 3 July 2016, 14.00-17.00
Location: Kings Road Gardens, opposite
Prudential, Kings Road, Reading, RG1 3ES
In June
1916, a large group of women and girls employed at Huntley & Palmers'
Biscuit Factory, Kings Rd, Reading, walked out on strike over the dismissal of
16 colleagues following a dispute with a forewoman. Soon after, and following
the reinstatement of the dismissed women, the National Union of Gas Workers and
General Labourers, buoyed by the militancy of the women and girls, successfully
won higher pay for all grades - earning men 5 shillings a week increase and
boys and women 3 shillings a week more.
In honour of
the women's strike, defending sacked colleagues and prompting the NUGW&GL
to organise for higher pay, the Reading Trades Union Council, the GMB union and
Unite the Union are organising a picnic in Kings Road Gardens, opposite the
former Huntley & Palmers' Factory (today, the Prudential Offices, Kings
Road) - near the spot where the women allegedly threw biscuits into the river
during the dispute.
Trade
unions, sympathetic organisations and interested members of the general public
are invited to join the event, setting up stalls, displaying banners and
distributing information. All are welcome. Attendees are asked to bring their
own lunch and join in and enjoy the songs and theatrics and the variety of
stalls by cooperating trade unions and other organiations. For more
information, or to get involved, email the RTUC on readingtradesunioncouncil@gmail.com.
 |
| Reading Chronicle, 23 June 2016, p. 19 |
