GRANDEES from Trade Union movement are set to descend on Cradley Heath next month for the unveiling of Luke Perry’s Mary Macarthur statue.

To mark the historic event there will be a festival to celebrate the bravery of the chainmakers in Beardmore Park on Saturday, June 9 after the statue is unveiled at Mary Macarthur Memorial Gardens at 11.30am.

Tony Barnsley, Sandwell UNISON publicity officer, said: “The festival is the celebrate the historic strike victory of women chainmakers from Cradley Heath in 1910.

“The women fought for 10 weeks to beat their chain bosses, double their wages and establish the minimum wage in Britain for the first time.”

He added: “The free festival will include live music, re-enactments of the strike as well as a range of family events, including a penalty shoot out competition.

“Everyone with a pride of Black Country or working class history should come along, check out the unveiling of the monument built by local industrial artist Luke Perry, and enjoy the day."

Black Country artist Luke Perry was given the task of sculpturing the 10 foot high statue of the strike leader and the honouring of the trade union leader is set to get national and international recognition.

The 1910 strike led by Mary Macarthur was one of the first in the world to demand better pay and conditions for women workers.

New Cradley Heath and Old Hill Labour Councillor John Tipper urged local people to attend the event.

He said: “The Chainmakers Strike represented a hugely important victory for ordinary workers.

“I'm delighted that Cradley Heath will again celebrate its unique contribution to working-class history, and I think we can all still learn from, and be inspired by, the values of solidarity and community that underpinned the Women Chainmakers victory.”