You can follow the conference online at the ITUC’s special Congress site, and online union radio activists RadioLabour will also be there, compiling a special programme every day of the Congress. Tune in to them at the RadioLabour site.

Confirmed speakers are Frances O’Grady (TUC Deputy General Secretary), Sally Hunt (UCU General Secretary), Dave Prentis (Unison General Secretary) Mehdi Hasan (Senior Editor, Politics at the New Statesman) and Christine Payne (Equity General Secretary).

In addition the event will feature workshops arranged by Unions 21 and Compass.  To register for the event email Debbie Cleary at the TUC on dcleary@tuc.org.uk

And where better to be to celebrate trade unionism and remember the Tolpuddle Martyrs than at a free festival in the rural Dorset village where they lived?

What began life as a fairly dry memorial day with a long list of speakers and a silver band has in recent years been transformed into a lively, vibrant and fun rally attended by upwards of 9,000 people. But although the event has changed, its serious message remains: trade unionists from all over the world gather in the third weekend in July to commemorate the Martyrs’ contribution to British working life.

For those who don’t know, the Martyrs were six farmworkers who were transported to Australia in 1834 for forming a trade union. After a huge campaign – 800-000 people signed a petition demanding their release – they were pardoned and returned home as heroes, having established in law the right to join a trade union.

Even as children play in the kids’ area and other festival-goers enjoy a heady mix of politics, poetry, theatre, comedy, music and debate, thousands march through the village under an array of colourful banners, passing the ageing sycamore under which the Martyr’s leader George Loveless convened the historic union meetings.

And the moving wreath-laying ceremony on the grave of James Hammett, the only Martyr buried in the village, attracts a growing number of spectators.

For these are trade unionists for whom the sacrifice of the Martyrs is very real. They reflect on the Martyrs’ courage, determination and principles and use the experience to fortify themselves for similar struggles in the year ahead.

The injustices perpetrated against the six Tolpuddle farm workers nearly 200 years ago are today being repeated across the globe.

In Britain trade unions lead the fight for equality and social justice whilst organising and defending the interest of working people in the face of powerful employers, privatisation and job cuts.

In other parts of the world workers are persecuted just for belonging to a trade union. The strong international feel of the festival is reflected in the speakers who attend: since 2002 the message of global solidarity has been passed on by guests from South Africa, United States, Colombia, Zimbabwe, Ukraine, Guatemala and the Philippines.

The story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs and the campaign that freed them reminds us what can be won and inspires us to fight on. The annual festival reflects the spirit of those prepared to stand up and be counted, and urges us to do the same.

As the Martyrs fought for their rights, so should we fight for the rights of our fellow workers. That message is as relevant today as it was back in 1834.

Tim Lezard – South West TUC

Many of the reps at the event were from the public sector and it was clear that a number of them were having to deal with employer efforts to reduce facility time allocations so they welcomed the resources that the TUC has produced not just to help them improve facility agreements but also to make the business case for union reps – the Union Advantage, Reps in Action and the new Touchstone pamphlet on How Effective Unions can help re-build the economy

Philosophy Football events are a pioneering mix of ideas and entertainment. They have brought together a spell-binding line-up. Headlining will be the legendary Linton Kwesi Johnson, making a rare London appearance. Linton will be showcasing his work of dissenting poetry, with fellow dub poet, the incomparable Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze. And we are proud to include the best of a new generation of young performers, one of the finest, performance poet and author Laura Dockrill. Opening the night will be Congolese band, The Zong Zing All Stars.

Combining the rhyme and the rhythm with some reason will be TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O’ Grady, Paul Mason author of Meltdown: The End of the Age of Greed. Detailing the changing contours of class will be Lynsey Hanley, journalist and author of the wonderful Estates: An Intimate History while geographer Doreen Massey maps the impact of gobalisation on traditional trade union demands. There will also be a special presentation on life underground – the work of the cleaners who keep the tube safe, and were being treated appallingly until RMT took up their case. It’s a mix designed to inspire, inform and entertain.

There are big savings to book as a table of 10 so why not make a party of it? There’s the option to pre-book a buffet supper too. TUC Congress Centre is at 23-28 Great Russell Street, London WC1. Book on the web or call 0208 802 3499.

The event will start at 3.30pm – so if you’re down at Tolpuddle please join us!

If you know anyone who likes online video, why not download a copy and send it on to them? They might be in line for one of three great prizes of £250 of video making kit, and a chance to have their work seen by the wider movement at Congress 2009!