So as well as Waterloo Social Club, I have been visiting the Blackpool Trades Club as I have found that the Trades Union still meets there, and has done since the early 20th century. There is a lot of history to the union as they have played major roles in the shaping of workers rights over the last century or so. (Trades Union Council (TUC) website: http://www.tuc.org.uk/). The TUC was started in 1868. The TUC's leaders bargin with employers on behalf of union members in order to negotiate labour contracts in terms of things like wages, work rules, and the hiring and firing of employees as well as many other things.
The current owner of the club, Terry, allowed me access to the Trades Union Meeting Room to take a few images of the banners they have displayed.
I think there is so much to be told here and am trying to get in contact with some of the members to see if I can explore the union further as I feel there is a lot of potential in a project like this, especially given the current economical climate - there is a fair amount of activity within the unions at the moment.
The Trades Club in Blackpool is a central meeting point for monthly meetings between leaders from the smaller districts in the area. Blackpool was considered to be a central meeting point for all the unions in the north west regions, especially given its highly sucessful tourist industry and in 1919 a club was erected for the unions. Layton also has a club built for the union's to meet. Originally the Trades Union Council met at what is now the masonary hall on Adelaide Street in Blackpool. In 1929 it was decided the union's needed a new building and so a new design was created and The Blackpool Trades Club as it is now was built. The first TUC meeting was held there on February 25th 1930.
I think these banners make strong images as they really punctuate their surrounds which are very subtle and basic. Which i think reflects the strength and unity in the unions. However I dont think they images really explore the space at all which is something i wanted to do.
This came from downstairs in the Spen Hudson Room, not the meeting room.
Notes from a meeting with Terry, the owner of BTC
