Come, Let Us Reason Together: Unions at Rowntree’s
Event details
As part of the Joseph Rowntree Centenary, The Rowntree Society explores the story of Rowntree’s relationship with Trade Unions during the 1920s. It will principally be told through the lives of chief shop steward Fred Hawksby and his assistant Irene Pickup, as well as by exploring how Joseph and Seebohm Rowntree dealt with industrial relations in their company, inspired by their Quaker values and liberal politics.
Discover how each character’s background and individual perspective was so significant in influencing each other and the pioneering work in developing workplace democracy at Rowntree’s, as well as the wider impact this had nationally. By weaving themes of poverty and industrial relations, and the tensions between liberal and socialist politics in 1920s Britain in navigating these issues, this telling of history from below will bring a new perspective to Rowntree and York histories, demonstrating how working-class people make their own waves.
Image credit: Rowntree Society
About the speakers
Pete Kilbane is Labour and Cooperative Councillor for Micklegate, Executive Member for Economy and Culture, Deputy Leader City of York Council and Deputy Mayor York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. Pete came to York to study Politics in 1986 and never really left - both the city and the subject. After graduating he spent 10 years at Nestle Rowntree and became active in the trade union movement. He went on to be a full time official for the GMB Union and a TUC adult education tutor. When his children arrived, he opted for self-employment running a consultancy and managing a charity. Most recently he has helped set up a couple of well-known and successful hospitality venues in the city. He became a Councillor for the Micklegate ward in 2019.
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