The First World War
women's fight against the exploitative attempts by private landlords to hike up
rents came to an end after court cases against 18 rent strikers were abandoned
in 1915 and the law was changed by the enactment of the Rent Restriction Act.
Glasgow Film Theatre is marking the centenary by showing the 1984 film on the
struggle - Red Skirts on Clydeside -
on Saturday 2 May. The film will be introduced by Maria Fyfe, former MP for Maryhill and chair of the Remember Mary
Barbour Association. Maria said. "As we look forward to a tangible
memorial for the rent strikers with a statue of Mary Barbour, it is good
to be able to say
how much we
have managed to move the recognition fight on since the film was made."
In addition, a walk
organised by Glasgow Friends of MayDay (GFoMD), will
visit the old court were
the case was due to be heard, the prison in which many women were held and
sites of many of the demonstrations and rallies. 'Women, the War and the Rent strikes' will take place on
Saturday 25 April. Chris Bartter, Chair of GFoMD said "The women involved in the
rent strikes were often also involved in the peace campaigns and before that in
the struggles for women's suffrage. Their lives are an example to today's
activists, and it makes a good walk!"
 |
| Rent Strike demo |
The two events are just
part of the programme launched to mark the International Workers' Festival in
Glasgow and around. Other events include a Clarion Cycle Club ride out and a
Love Music, Hate Racism Gig - both on May 1 - afternoon and evening respectively.
The now-famous Great MayDay Cabaret
will again be in Oran Mor on the 4 May - this year it stars Tommy Sands - and a
short tour of John and Willy Maley's play - From
The Calton to Catalonia - starts on the 1 May in the Calton starring,
well-known Scottish actor, Gary Lewis. The full programme is available from the
Friends of MayDay website - may1st.org.uk.
Tickets for the GFT film
go on sale on 23 April at £5 from http://www.glasgowfilm.org/
Signing up for the walk costs £7.50,
contact Chris Bartter on 07715 583 729.
Tickets for both The (Third) Great Mayday Cabaret and the May 3
performance of From the Calton to Catalonia are available from Oran Mor (over
the bar) or via their website - http://oran-mor.co.uk/whats-on/ (booking fee). Tickets for other performances of From the Calton to Catalonia see the FairPley website at http://www.fairpley.com/
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