LEADERS from the union movement visited Workington earlier in the week- ahead of a rally against the cost of living crisis later this month.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) held the event in the Carnegie Theatre, Workington with members from unions such as the GMB ,Prospect ,NASUWT and the NUT gathering together in an event that all said was 'very much the beginning' of a wider movement.

The meeting included speeches by GMB General Secretary Gary Smith and Prospect Senior Deputy General Secretary Sue Ferns, it is one of several events taking place across the country ahead of the TUC’s national We Demand Better demonstration in London on June, 18.  

The TUC is calling on workers to join the movement in its national demonstration to 'demand better for working people'.  

Cumberland Deputy Leader Lisa Brown spoke about the situation foodbanks across the county were facing-due to a lack of resources as the cost of living crisis rumbles on across the country.

Speaking to the Times and Star after the event, GMB General Secretary Gary Smith said: "I think we have had a fantastic meeting up here in Cumbria tonight,, I think that the anger and frustration is starting to really bubble up about what's happening with the cost of living and the lack of quality jobs and oppurtunities for the people of West Cumbria, I hope that people are going to get behind the demonstration of June, 18 and tell the government what they think."

Members of teaching unions across the county also highlighted how they have felt let down by the government throughout the pandemic, saying that they were at points left feeling as if they just had to 'get on with it' feeling often unsupported in their 'essential' roles.

TUC President Sue Ferns also attended the event and delivered a speech to the crowd.

Speaking after the event,she told the Times and Star: "I think it's (the event) is really important, it's been a fantastic meeting tonight,  people are speaking from the heart , about the need for unity .harnesssing the power we have within the unions and in the community and I think we should really do much more of this."