Join UCU Northern region and UCU members from all over the UK in Durham on Saturday 12th July 2025
Hosted by the Durham Miners’ Association (DMA) since 1871, the motto for the Durham Miners’ Gala is ‘the past we inherit, the future we build’ and it is for building our movement that I write to you today.
The Gala, or ‘Durham Big Meeting’, is usually the largest trade union and labour movement event in Europe and is a unique and inspiring spectacle. UCU general secretary Jo Grady spoke at the Gala a few years back, to a crowd of over 150,000 attendees. Since 1871, the Gala has given a voice to the oppressed throughout the world. It has expressed the vital importance of trade unionism, the duty to look after each other in the community, and the desire to build a society where wealth is created for the common good. Above all, the Gala commemorates the past, as part of a living movement, which desires to build a better future for all.
Beautiful banners celebrating the coalfield communities of County Durham and beyond, along with many sister trade union banners, and our region’s working-class history are carried through the medieval city to the sound of incredible brass band music, creating a wonderful feel of street theatre, celebration, and pride.
UCU has a long and proud history of supporting the Gala and we want as many UCU Northern members as possible to march proudly with the Esh Winning Colliery Banner, and Bear Park and Esh Colliery Band, whom UCU have supported since 2019. On the day, UCU banners, members and the band will leave from outside Babylon on North Road at 8.30am prompt, this is locally known as the former Essoldo cinema and is about 1 minute walk down from Durham bus station. If coming to Durham by train, the meet-up point is literally 5 minutes’ walk from the train station.
Please note that this location is slightly different from the last few years, but very easy to get to by public transport.
We want this year to mark UCU Northern’s largest member mobilisation at Durham Miners’ Gala, so if you can attend, please let us know, and particularly if you can help at our UCU tent on the main field. Let us know you are coming by emailing gateshead@ucu.org.uk, with ‘Gala’ in the subject heading.
The Gala is the world’s greatest celebration of community, international solidarity, and working-class life, so please do try and join us on this historic day next month.
