We are thrilled to announce that Angela Rayner MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, is now confirmed to give the 2021 Mary Macarthur Lecture.
Angela advanced through the trade union movement whilst working in social care before becoming elected as an MP in 2015 and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in 2020. It is an inspiring story about the vital roles trade unions play in giving opportunities to women to pursue their ambitions to their fullest and we are delighted that Angela can share her thoughts with us at this year's lecture.
This year, marking 100 years since the untimely passing of the great Mary Macarthur, we will also hear from a number of leading women in the academia and trade unions, as we discuss what lessons we should learn from Mary's experience organising vulnerable working women and how we build a more progressive future for working women.
Further keynote speakers include:
Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary, NEU
Born in Bolton, Mary was a secondary school teacher before becoming a lectuer at the University of York. Mary progressed to Head of Secondary Education at Edge Hill College and then Kingston University before becoming General Secretary of ATL in 2003 which merged with NUT in 2017 to form the NEU
Dr Cathy Hunt, academic and historian
An academic focussing on people’s lives in Britain in the late 19th and first half of the 20th century, Dr Cathy Hunt is an authoratiative voice on the life of Mary Macarthur and the women whom she organised. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of her death, Cathy has worked with the TUC Library to create a special exhibition about Mary Macarthur's life.
Sarah James, GMB national women's equality lead
Sarah works locally to the home of the women chainmakers at Sandwell Council. A powerful and articulate advocate for equality and justice, helping to form and drive forward the GMB's 'BOSS' group and taking on a national role on equality within the GMB, Sarah is a great example of articulate and brave trade unionism - a true legacy of Mary Macarthur and the women chainmakers of Cradley Heath
Louise Regan, NEU & TUC Midlands Chair
Louise is a teacher who is the NEU's National Officer. A previous NEU President Louise is the current TUC Midlands Chair and a leading voice in the midlands, constantly pushing for greater fairness, justice and equality
Chaired by Sylvia Heal - Patron of the Women Chainmakers' Festival and ex Halesowen and Rowley Regis
Sylvia was famously first elected to the House of Commons at the Mid-Staffordshire by-election in 1990 in a contest that was largely fought over the Poll Tax.
Elected in 1997 for the Halesowen and Rowley Regis she was a frontbench spokeswoman for health and women as well as spending time on the Education select committee. A passionate advocate of the TUC Women Chainmakers' Festival, Sylvia has supported and promoted the festival from its inception and is today the patron of the festival,