MIRS - Programme of Meetings

The History of British South Asian trade unionism?14 November 2024

Taj Ali

In this MIRS meeting, we welcome the journalist, author, industrial correspondent and former editor of Tribune, Taj Ali, as our speaker.

The talk will be based on his forthcoming book, to be published by Manchester University Press, with the working title Come what may, we're here to stay: a story of South Asian resistance.

The book focuses on the often neglected history of South Asian political activism in Britain, ranging from defending communities from racist attacks to organising for better pay and conditions on factory floors, and draws out the implications for political organising in the twenty-first century. The book is wide ranging but the particular focus of this meeting will be on the union and workplace activism discussed in the book, and as ever there will be plenty of time for questions and debate following the talk itself.

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Meeting to be held at 6-7.30pm, Thursday 14 November, Lecture theatre 6 (G35) at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School - map

This is a public meeting and all are welcome, but please register via Eventbrite either to attend in person or to access the Zoom link for those who would prefer to access it remotely.

Future Meetings

On 30 January, 2025 we hold our joint annual meeting with the Industrial Law Society, where Prof Lydia Hayes (University of Liverpool/IER) will discuss forthcoming Labour employment legislation in Britain (in person/hybrid).
On 6 March we will be holding an online-only meeting with Dr Hana Shepherd and Prof Janice Fine (Rutgers University) presenting on their forthcoming book based on research in the US on municipal labor standards enforcement regimes across four cities: San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles and New York.
In May, our annual end-of-year Shirley Lerner Memorial Lecture will feature Prof Sian Moore (Anglia Ruskin University (in person/hybrid).
Our annual joint Arthur Priest lecture with the CIPD will be announced shortly.