CWU Northern Ireland Telecoms Branch

24/07/2026

Hello friends and Allys🏳️‍🌈✊🏼

📅 *date*:Saturday 25th July

⏰ *meet up*: 11.30am at “Big Fish”

🏳️‍🌈 *parade starts*: 12.15pm sharp to be brought round to Albert Clock

📍*meeting point*: Big Fish Donegall Quay, Belfast BT1 3NG

💵 *cost*: Free



What to expect 🌈

• Walk with Communication Workers Union

• ⁠Celebrate this year’s theme *Love In Every Colour*

• ⁠Be part of one of Northern Ireland's biggest celebrations of visibility, community and equality

Come along and show your support

Northern Ireland Telecoms Branch

01/07/2026

The Cramlington Train Wreckers - Powerful Play coming to Belfast and Derry/Londonderry.

A POWERFUL PLAY MARKING 100 YEARS SINCE THE GENERAL STRIKE COMES TO BELFAST & DERRY/LONDONDERRY



To mark the centenary of the 1926 General Strike, NIPSA is proud to support a major touring theatre production that tells a powerful true story of working‑class solidarity, injustice and collective action.



The Cramlington Train Wreckers is a critically acclaimed stage play based on real events during the General Strike. In May 1926, a train derailment involving the Flying Scotsman led to eight miners being arrested and handed a total of 48 years in prison, despite no loss of life and only one minor injury. The sentences were widely seen as political punishment, and the men were eventually freed following sustained trade‑union pressure. They returned home as heroes.



The play brings this story to life with warmth, humour and deep emotional impact, placing working‑class voices and trade‑union solidarity at the heart of the narrative. Following a sell‑out tour across England, the production is now coming here.



Performance Details



The Playhouse, Derry/Londonderry
Wednesday 8 July, 7.30pm



The Waterfront Hall, Belfast
Thursday 9 July, 2.30pm & 7.30pm



The production is sponsored by NIPSA, alongside Unison, Unite, the Fire Brigades Union and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.







Why This Matters



The story at the centre of The Cramlington Train Wreckers is one that still resonates today. Ordinary workers standing together, resisting injustice and demanding fairness. A century on from the General Strike, its themes remain hugely relevant.



The play is written by Ed Waugh, well known to local audiences for Carrying David and Dirty Dusting. The production stars Micky Cochrane, recently named Northeast Performer of the Year for his performance in the role.



Ed Waugh will be visiting Derry/Londonderry and Belfast in June for talks and events ahead of the performances.



Tickets On Sale Now:



The Playhouse: www.derryplayhouse.co.uk/event/the-cramlington-train-wreckers
Waterfront Hall: www.waterfront.co.uk/what-s-on/the-cramlington-train-wreckers


We would encourage members who are interested in labour history, trade‑union activism, or powerful working‑class storytelling to attend and help mark this important centenary.

✨Win ✨ a pair of tickets to see The Cramlington Train Wreckers 🎭

Following sell-out performances across England, this powerful and moving play is coming to Belfast and Derry/L'derry next week!

Based on a remarkable true story from the 1926 General Strike, The Cramlington Train Wreckers is a gripping tale of injustice, solidarity, friendship and working-class resilience.

🎟️ To win 2 tickets to attend your preferred performance in Belfast or Derry/L'derry* all you have to do is:

✅ Like our page
✅ Comment below and tell us who you'd bring with you

Competition closes 12noon, Fri 3 Jul.

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁:
⚠️ This competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Meta.
⚠️ We will never contact you asking for payment, bank details or personal information via a link.
⚠️ Please beware of fake accounts. We will only contact the winner through our official page.

🍀Good luck!



*𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:
The Playhouse, Derry/Londonderry - Wednesday 8 July, 7.30pm
The Waterfront Hall, Belfast - Thursday 9 July, 2:30pm & 7:30pm

Info and tickets: https://nipsa.org.uk/nipsa-in-action/nipsa-latest/1340-sell-out-play-marks-100-years-since-the-1926-general-strike

15/06/2026

On Saturday our Branch joined thousands of others at the United Against Racism Rally in Belfast.

08/06/2026

We would encourage all our members to support the Good Jobs Bill. You can learn about this via this link: https://www.ictuni.org/publications/urgent-show-your-support-good-jobs-bill

We are calling on everyone to contact their local MLAs to ensure support for the Bill. You can do this by using this link: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mla/

Making it easy to keep an eye on the UK’s parliaments. Discover who represents you, how they’ve voted and what they’ve said in debates.

03/06/2026

For our Branch Young Workers (under 30) - if you're interested please contact your Branch Secretary (Joe Fee) at [email protected]

28/05/2026

28/05/2026

under threat as DUP try to block it, attempting to act as a veto for business interests. These are basic protections workers have elsewhere, the cannot be allowed hold back better rights and supports for ordinary workers and their families.

We all know the truth - what employers refuse to say - they don’t want a trade union about the place. Instead they are making nonsense arguments about a lack of consultation. Unions supported a 12 week consultation period - DfE had over 100 engagements with employers organisations from 2024. If they aren’t happy with the bill that’s the fault of employers associations who now cannot expect to tear down the process for everyone else.

Don’t buy the nonsense and don’t let the DUP rob you of better workplace protections.

📢Make your voice heard. Speak up, contact your MLAs, complain to the DUP. The executive must be allowed to debate the bill which is supported by a majority of all our communities - anything else is an affront to any concept of democracy Stormont claims to hold.


Northern Ireland Committee Irish Congress of Trade Unions Unite the Union, Northern Ireland Unison Northern-Ireland Equity NIPSA - Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance Nasuwt Northern Ireland Fermanagh Council of Trade Unions Ballymena and Antrim Trade Union Council GMB Union North West & Irish Irish National Teachers' Organisation NI BURC Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre Derry Trades Union Council Mid-Ulster Trade Union Council Ulster Teachers' Union The Communication Workers Union CWU Northern Ireland Telecoms Branch Ucu Ulster

28/05/2026

Earlier this month your local Branch sent delegates to the CWU General Conference and the Telecoms & Financial Services Conference which were held in Bournemouth from Sunday 10th to Thursday 14th May.

You can get a summary of each day’s events by click on the following link: CWU: News

Our Reps – Paddy Meehan, Lili Savage, Klaudia Sierakowsa and Branch Secretary Joe Fee spoke on motions impacting our members. Hollie Gregg who sits on the T&FS Executive spoke too in that capacity.

Lawrence Huston from our Branch spoke on several motions impacting Retired members (in his role on the National Retired Members Committee).

08/05/2026

As part of the May Day 2026 celebrations the Carrickfergus Community Chess Club held a social on Tuesday 5th May. Our Branch were very proud to sponsor this event.