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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Thanks to our wonderful volunteers for manning a stall at the popular Salford Histories festival at the weekend, Julie and Jordan spoke with a lot of local people about the library and sold a lot of merchandise! www.salford100.org.uk/events/salfo...

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

We are proud to announce our Salford 100 event with Manchester and Salford Film Society has been nominated and shortlisted for the Single Event category at the Cinema for All’s Film Society of the Year Awards! More information can be found about the award at: ilovemanchester.com/manchester-a...

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

The library will be closed to the public and for reading room appointments on Tuesday 22nd September and Thursday 24th September. Volunteers will still be able to come in.

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Only 14 tickets remain for our event on the 17th September: Remembering and Commemorating the 1826 Weavers Uprising and Chatterton Massacre Tickets and more information can be found on the WCML Eventbrite page: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1826-weave...

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The library will be closed Wednesday 26th August for an exciting day of filming- more to be announced in the future. Apologies for any inconvenience. Watch this space for more information!

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

This talk from Dr David Scott will commemorate the 1826 Weavers Uprising and Chatterton Massacre. Thursday 17th September, 1:30pm, in the Working Class Movement Library's Annex building. The library will also be open 1-4. Tickets and more information here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1826-weave...

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

A few of our Little Flames told us why you should come to see the exhibition before it closes its doors forever on Friday 17 April You can come to see the exhibition between 12pm and 2pm THIS SUNDAY 12 April, and you can join the waitlist for our badge and zine making closing party happening 2-4pm!

Slide 2: My favourite object from Jason, pictured left, reading Big Flame material: “one of my favourite bits is the conference guide front cover, seeing some of the smoking corners outside of organising spaces it just makes so much sense.” - Jason”.

Slide 3: My favourite object from Ally, pictured right, holding up a fabric tassel in a banner-making workshop. They are surrounded by a Big Flame cartoon of women embracing, entitled ‘solidarity’, and a black star which says ‘snazzy!’. They say: ““my favourite objects are our disposable camera pictures, and the essay ‘Gay Flames’. I really enjoyed reading that and putting my personal touch on it.” - Ally”

Slide 4: You should see the exhibition because… ““the exhibition is relevant and shows how the struggle, and the language around it, has both changed and stayed the same. My favourite object is the ‘40 Excuses Leftist Men Use To Avoid Responsibility For Doing Anything About Sexism’ bulletin!” - Seth”. Seth is pictured on the left, smiling by the seaside.

Slide 5: You should see the exhibition because… ““one of my favourite parts of being in the project was being exposed to Manchester’s leftist history and the efforts that have been made to report on and showcase international struggles - thus showcasing actual solidarity between communities. There’s so much to learn from this presently. - Kongo”. Kongo is pictured on the left, standing outside the library, smiling.

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

🔥 KEEP THE FLAME BURNING: CLOSING SOON 🔥 Last chance to see our landmark exhibition, ‘Keep The Flame Burning’, which presents our material of the libertarian socialist group, Big Flame (1970-c.1985), and was co-curated by our wonderful project volunteers, the Little Flames.

Slide 1: Keep The Flame Burning: Leaving Soon! A collage of Big Flame photographs and ephemera, as well as some film photographs of the Little Flames.

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

And PLEASE, if you can no longer make it, let us know/ cancel your ticket so we can give the space away! You CAN still come to view the exhibition on the day of the event without a ticket - so if you miss out do come to say goodbye to the exhibition anyways and join in on the festivities!!!

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

We’re delighted to announce that the initial spaces for our Keep The Flame Burning Closing Party and zine/badge making workshop next weekend are FULL! We’ve added a final couple tickets and popped a waitlist option on Eventbrite, so do continue to register your interest! Keep the flame burning ❤️‍🔥✊

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Also have the chance to buy some gorgeous riso prints designed especially for the exhibition by @taxicabindustries. Book your free tickets here and find out more: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/keep-the-f...

eventbrite.co.uk

Keep the Flame Burning closing party: zine/badge making

Join us for our final event in our events series, and celebrate the end of the Big Flame project!

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

🔥 KEEP THE FLAME BURNING CLOSES, BUT THE LEGACY CONTINUES 🔥 Join us on Sunday 12 April from 2pm until 4pm for an unofficial closing party for the exhibition, and a zine/badge making workshop to close out the Big Flame project. Expect cake (Ve/GF), and chats with our project group ‘Little Flames’.

Slide 1: A collaged and hand-illustrated poster which says: KEEP THE FLAME BURNING CLOSING PARTY. Cake! All ages! Make badges/ zines! 12.4.26 14.00 - 16.00. Exhibition open 12-2! The illustrations comprise doves, a faceless woman wearing a party hat, flames, and various collaged photographs from 70s/80s publications and protests.

A duotone version of slide 1, edited to be pink

A duotone version of slide 1, edited to be blue and purple

A duotone version of slide 1, edited to be yellow and orange

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

On Sunday 22nd March the library welcomed a record-breaking number of guests to its 2026 International Women's Day celebrations, attendees enjoyed keynote speeches from Vicky Holmes, Professor Mary Davis and Vicky Knight and a banner presentation from Joanne Kelly, in memory of her mum Jane Loftus.

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

The Fakenham occupation was one of the first examples of women occupying factories in defence of their right to work. Come to the Working Class Movement Library! The library has radical newspapers, magazines, and books on women’s factory occupations and wider struggles for rights in the workplace

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

#OTD in 1972, 45 women workers at a shoe factory in Fakenham, Norfolk, locked themselves in and barricaded the doors with machines, after they were made redundant following a US buyout of the company. #FakenhamOccupation #WomenWorkers #WomensLiberation #InternationalSolidarity #LabourHistory #WCML

Black and white newspaper photograph with the large headline “FAKENHAM DANGER WOMEN AT WORK” printed in bold capital letters on the left. On the right, a middle-aged woman wearing glasses, a polka dot blouse and a light-coloured sleeveless overall stands speaking with her hands raised mid gesture. In front of her is a table covered with leather handbags and clothing.

The photo is from the WCML archive copy of Socialist Woman, Summer 1972, page 3

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Join us to celebrate International Women’s Day as we bring together trade unionists, activists, and historians to explore women’s oppression & the power of collective action. Sunday 22 March 2025 2.00pm – 5.00pm Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/internatio...

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

It was our final Inflammatory Material Reading group over the weekend! 😢 Though we can't quite believe time has gone so quickly, we're so thankful to anyone and everyone that's turned up to a Big Flame event while the exhibition's been on Keep the flame burning 🔥

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

These women's stories will be celebrated in our upcoming exhibitions on the Grunwick Strike, and the General Strike. Keep an eye out for updates! #IWD #WCML #Womenshistory #GrunwickStrike #GeneralStrike

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Today is International Women's Day - a day celebrating the achievements of women globally. This year, the library is focusing on the work of three women: Jayaben Desai, Ellen Wilkinson, and Isabel Brown. Photograph of Jayaben Desai copyright: Angela Phillips

A black and white photograph of Jayaben Desai giving a speech, with posters in the foreground - both posters are about the Women's Rights Rally.

A black and white image of Ellen Wilkinson, sat among a group of men.

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Book Launch Event -Thursday 26th February 2026 We are excited to be hosting Greater Manchester Tenants Union and @katrinanavickas for a launch of her latest book “Contested Commons: A history of protest and public space”. Free event, book now! www.ticketsource.co.uk/gmtu/contest...

A promo image for the launch on Katrina Navikas, Contested Commons book launch at the Working Class Movement Library. Black text on a yellow background.

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

WCML holds books and pamphlets with important insights into the last year of Malcolm X’s life, drawing on his notebooks from his visits abroad, and debates about his changing political views. #MalcolmX #OnThisDay #BlackHistory #LabourHistory #RadicalHistory #CivilRights #WorkingClassHistory #WCML

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

On this day in 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated. He was shot multiple times on stage while preparing to address the Organization of Afro-American Unity at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan.

Black-and-white book cover titled “Malcolm X: Visits abroad, April 1964–February 1965” by Marika Sherwood, featuring a collage of archival photographs of Malcolm X speaking at podiums, raising a fist, travelling, and meeting people during his international trips.

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

As part of our project which revisits the Grunwick Strike, our co-curators took part in an 'Ask an activist' session. Panelists included (left to right in pic 1) Sashwati Mira Sengupta, Celestino Pereira, Georgia Montague-Nelson, and Dan Edmonds. Keep an eye out for posts as this project progresses!

Towards the back of the photo, there are two tables organised in an 'L shape', one with three people on it, our panelists, Sashwati Miri Sengupta, Celestino Pereira, and Georgia Montague-Nelson. On the table to the right, panelist Dan Edmond is sat, with a powerpoint on the interactive board behind him.

At a table, there are four people, panelist Celestino Pereira, and three of our co-curators. They are having a conversation.

This is a photograph of the entire group. The co-curators are split into four different groups, with a panelist sat with each group. Everyone is having conversations.

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Not long until 'Engels in the 21st Century' by 'Doc' C. Ritchie at the Working Class Movement Library, in partnership with @manifestopresscoop Monday 16th February 6.30pm BOOK YOUR FREE TICKET NOW! tinyurl.com/engelsbook

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

To find out more about LGSM, the People’s History Museum has some great things in their archives. To find out more about the communist party, search our library catalogue.

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

#OTD in 1987, activist Mark Ashton passed away. Mark Ashton was born in 1960. He was an activist, involved in the Communist Party of Great Britain, the Young Communist League (YCL), and co-founded Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), which is what he was known for primarily.

Mark Ashton wearing a 'Pits and Perverts: Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners' t-shirt, holding two banners, a white one with red writing (the writing is cut off), and a pink banner with black writing 'Pinko commie queers COMMUNIST PARTY', which also has an outline of an upside down triangle.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

We are working with eleven young people to co-curate our next exhibition, the Grunwick Strike Revisited. The exhibition, being delivered in partnership with University of Manchester, will explore the legacy of the Grunwick Strike 1976-1978 and will open this summer.

Eleven people sit and stand around large tables to look at archive material at the Working Class Movement Library.

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

The image used is of an issue of Gay Left, a journal that was published in the 1970s by a group of mainly gay men. Search the library catalogue to see what other LGBT+ material we have, including other issues of Gay Left! #LGBTHistory #LGBTHistoryMonth #WCML

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

Today marks the first day of LGBT+ History Month 🏳️‍🌈. LGBT+ History Month was founded in 2004, first occurring in February 2005. This year’s theme is Science and Innovation. To learn more about this month and the organisation, visit the LGBT+ History Month website here: lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk

Issue Number 8, from Summer 1979 of Gay Left.

'GAY LEFT' is written at the top, in red thick block capitals, with both the issue number on the left, and price on the right. Below this is a black and white image on a broken jigsaw of people protesting for gay rights. At the bottom in black thick block capitals is 'PERSONAL POLITICS'

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

BOOK LAUNCH: 16th February 6.30pm! We are delighted to be joined by Manifesto Press and Manchester Morning Star Readers and Supporters Group to celebrate the launch of Doc Ritchie’s excellent and timely new volume, Friedrich Engels in the 21st Century. Find out more: wcml.org.uk/event/book-l...

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

To learn more about MacColl’s radical approach to creative media, take a trip down to our library. Featuring a plaque in commemoration of MacColl, the library continues to preserve the commitment to working-class unity that he worked to celebrate. Listen to his tapes and browse our MacColl archive.

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

#OTD folk singer-songwriter and Labour activist Ewan MacColl was born. A well-loved member of Salford’s working community and friend of the founders of our archive, MacColl spent his career creating music underpinned by his political sensibilities.

Black and white photograph of Ewan MacColl speaking and smoking in front of an
audience

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Explore more at the Working Class Movement Library! We hold taped talks, posters and lots of books by and about Gramsci and other material on the wider fight against fascism throughout history. #OnThisDay #Gramsci #ItalianCommunism #AntiFascism #WorkingClassHistory #Marxism #RadicalHistory #WCML

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

#OTD in 1891, Antonio Gramsci was born – one of the most original political thinkers of the twentieth century and a founder of the Italian Communist Party. Gramsci became a Marxist and a leading figure in the working-class movement in Turin, a rapidly industrialising city after World War 1.

A black and white sketch of Gramsci, with a red border

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

#OTD in 1893, the Independent Labour Party (ILP) was founded at a conference in Bradford. Most of the 120 delegates were young, working-class males from the industrial north of England and Scotland, but it represented all working people.

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

From local heroes and hidden histories to big cultural moments and neighbourhood celebrations, Salford centenary is about our people, our pride and our future. 👉 Sign up to the newsletter to find out what’s coming up, how to get involved and how to share your Salford story at: www.salford100.org.uk

Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

100 Days to Go until Salford turns 100! 🎉 On 21 April 2026, Salford will mark 100 years since being granted city status by a Royal Charter by King George V - and the countdown starts now! Let’s make it a year to remember! #Salford100 #SalfordCentenary @SalfordCouncil

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

#OTD in 1901, CLR James was born, a Trinidadian historian and Trotskyist activist whose writings shaped the fundamentals of Pan-Africanism, and bridged a new connection between Marxism and Black politics, inspired by his time spent in the Lancashire town of Nelson.

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

The name Abasindi originated from the Zulu or survivor – to emphasise the strength, resilience and competence of Black women. In our archive, there are a wide range of fascinating resources including banners, badges, pamphlets.

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

#OTD The Moss Side People’s Centre was the centre of community operations for the Abasindi Black Women’s Co-operative that was established by Kath Locke, Elouise Edwards and other Moss Side activists on 1st January 1980.

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

Merry Christmas to all our users and supporters! We have had a fantastic year here at the Working Class Movement Library, celebrating working class history and inspiring the next generation of class activists. None of this would be possible without our amazing volunteers and supporters. Thank you!

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

The library will be closed to the public, staff, and volunteers from Wednesday 24th December to Tuesday 6th January. From everyone at the library, we hope you all enjoy a wonderful end to the year and a joyful festive season.

Two badges, the one on the left features a snowman family and reads, 'Light Up Christmas for Mining Families' and the one on the right has the same message, but this time delivered in a photo that features Father Christmas.

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Reposted by Working Class Movement Library

GFTU Educational Trust @gftuet.org.uk · 28/11/2025

📺Catch up and share our third session of the #tradeunion and working-class #history series 2025-2026, featuring @louiseraw.bsky.social and Bob Kelly. This series is delivered in partnership with Marx Memorial Library & @wcmlibrary.bsky.social. youtu.be/5pBcng9BTjM?... #TUed #TradeUnionEducation

youtu.be

The Matchwomen’s Strike with Louise Raw

YouTube video by GFTU Educational Trust

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Reposted by Working Class Movement Library

GFTU Educational Trust @gftuet.org.uk · 30/10/2025

📺Catch up and share our second session of the #tradeunion and working-class #history series 2025-2026, featuring Dana Mills. This series is delivered in partnership with Marx Memorial Library and @wcmlibrary.bsky.social. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dOG... #WorkersHistory #EleanorMarx #NewUnionism

youtube.com

New Unionism & Eleanor Marx with Dana Mills

YouTube video by GFTU Educational Trust

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Reposted by Working Class Movement Library

The People's Papers @peoplespapers.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Save the date! We'll have materials to share from @wcmlibrary.bsky.social and @aiucentre.bsky.social and a roundtable discussion with folks sharing their reflections and experiences from the time. Should be a lively and participatory discussion! @cperguom.bsky.social @thejohnrylands.bsky.social

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Working Class Movement Library @wcmlibrary.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

Two of our Little Flames spoke to Yeliz Zaifoglu, archivist at the Museum Of Youth Culture, about their experiences working with the Big Flame archive and the importance of this work for future working class activists! 🔥 Read here: www.museumofyouthculture.com/working-clas...

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Reposted by Working Class Movement Library

GFTU Educational Trust @gftuet.org.uk · 02/10/2025

👀 What can we do about the far right? Join our Virtual Town Hall for updates on new courses + a live space to ask questions. @gawainlittle.bsky.social & @sarahwoolley1.bsky.social ✊ Become a #Friend: gftuet.org.uk/friends 📌 Register: actionnetwork.org/events/frien... #GFTUET #FriendsofET

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