BARNSLEY Trades Union Council will host a ‘Unity in Strength’ public meeting next month.

The group usually host a march on May Day but they will instead host a public meeting on May 3 at 11am in the Barnsley Civic’s Hanson Room.

Betty Cook, one of the co-founders of Women Against Pit Closures alongside Anne Scargill, will be one of the speakers on the day.

A memorial to the late Anne will also take place at the start of the meeting.

Ronnie Steele and Judy Cox are the other speakers.

George Arthur, the secretary of the group, said: “Instead of having a May Day march this year we decided that it was better to bring people to discuss how we can fight back against all the attacks being made by this government.

“Many pensioners have lost winter fuel allowance, WASPI women were promised justice and have now been pushed to one side and climate activists thought that this government would introduce policies to stop climate change and it is doing the opposite.

“Trade unionists thought that vicious anti-union laws would be removed and they have not; save our NHS campaigners are despairing that Wes Streeting is determined to being in more privatisation into our health service; anti-racists are disappointed that Labour seem to be influenced by Reform policies.

“Our meeting will be an opportunity for trade unionists, campaigners and those who want to see improvements to discuss how we can organise in Barnsley.”