The Workers United

The History

The Silvertown Strike of 1889 was a pivotal point in Newham’s history. A revolutionary period when the unskilled workers at Samuel Winkworth Silver’s factory rose up and demanded that their voices be heard. With the support of prominent figures like Eleanor Marx, Will Thorne and Ben Tillett the men and women of Silver’s factory demanded safer working conditions, a modest pay rise and paid overtime rates.

The workers, many of whom lived in poor housing conditions with over-priced rents were asking for no more than their due: A decent living wage. Hidden away in a far flung corner of the borough, factory founder Silver and factory manager, Matthew Gray embodied the heartless and faceless tyranny of wealth production; striving to create profit over people.

As the strike continued, a cold, harsh winter began to set in and Messrs Gray and Silver were refusing to budge.

Would the workers be victorious and have their humble demands met?

Or would the cold and the hunger drive them back in?

The Play

Join us for an exciting original play The Workers United a new collaboration by playwrights Deborah Walliker and Greg Benson.

The Workers United, according to Greg and Deborah, ‘aims to highlight the plight of the ordinary woman and man who would have been affected by low pay and poor conditions within the factory. It shows families with courage and spirit who, having to make do with very little, risked it all, simply to ask for what they were owed’.

The play is a script in hand performance with a cast of professional actors. All characters, with the exception of Eleanor Marx and Fred Ling are fictionalised.

Children are welcome but parental guidance is advised as some scenes contain violence and may be unsuitable for younger children.

*UPDATED Venue and Event Plan*

We will be performing at the Cundy Community Centre in Custom House. Elizabeth and Simeon Cundy were landlords at the Railway Tavern in Silvertown, a pub affectionately referred to by the locals as Cundy’s. Elizabeth Cundy in particular was an avid supporter of the strike and the union. She allowed the union committee to meet in her upstairs room free of charge. Eleanor Marx would’ve been one amongst that number.

Event Plan

6pm Meet at Custom House station in front of the Custom House, Our House mural

6-6.30pm March to Cundy Community Centre

6.30-7.30pm Cundy Community Centre: view images and information about the strike. Bar and food available.

7.30pm Performance begins

9.00pm Q&A

Join us for some or all of the evening’s proceedings. The choice is yours!