Celebrate the heroic struggle of the Calton Weavers, with a day of talks, walks, music and children’s entertainment.

In 1787, Scotland’s first major industrial dispute was a strike by the weavers of the Calton area, for better conditions and wage rises.

The strike was cruelly crushed by the militia, serving the interests of the ruling class, when troops opened fire on demonstraters, killing three instantly, with a further three later dying of their wounds.

These six became our first working class martyrs — nearly 50 years before the deportation of those who gathered in Tolpuddle in England — yet the Calton Weavers are now largely forgotten.

Their organisation and courage inspired an emerging working class with weavers from Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and across what would become Glasgow. They joined forces and refused to bow to the bosses might.

We hope you are able to join us and help to re-establish the rightful place of the Calton Weavers as working-class trade union martyrs. Bringing their memory to a new generation within our trade union movement and communities.