86C Coronation Road

Southville

Bristol

BS3 1AT

I am writing to your Union to advertise a CD that may be of interest to you for the benefit of generating interest in Union Learning programmes; it may also be of interest to any member who is interested in Labour Party and Trade Union history. My introduction is optional, but has been included as the issues raised are now being raised for debate in and outside of Trade Union Conferences. It also contains a reading and reference list and I hope that this may also be of use for generating interest in future Union learning programmes/ general interest.

Cost of CD is £3.00 which includes p&p.

Word Document 1 to preserve and get to a wider interested audience

“An Account of the Labour and Socialist Movement in Bristol – describing its Early Beginnings, Struggle and Growth” by Samson Bryher.

Records the history of Bristol’s early Socialist Movement, New Unions and the Labour Party prior to 1888 through to the first decades of the 20^th Century with a contribution from Ernest Bevin. Also contains early photos of the men and women activists who built the movement.

Word Document 2. Introduction.

This looks at the past and current state of the Labour Party and the alliance with the Trade Unions; it asks the reader to study Bryher’s historical record and then consider if in today’s political climate, Labour can be reclaimed or, has the time come for, as with what happened with the Liberals in 1906, a need for the Trade Unions to break with Labour and create a new Workers Party ?

For more information call 0776 1202434; to order copy (ies) of the CD please write to the above address or e mail stevewootton@supanet.com

Cheques made payable to Steve Wootton – all monies above the cost of postage and production will be donated to the Socialist Party and the Campaign For A New Workers Party.

Fraternally

Steve Wootton (a member of the CWU South West Engineering Branch and The Socialist Party, Bristol Branch)