A Rally Rooted in Defiance, Dignity, and Working‑Class Solidarity

The Burston Strike Rally is far more than a yearly gathering on a village green, it is a living memorial to the longest-running strike in British history, a 25‑year stand for justice led not by union officials or political leaders, but by schoolchildren. On 1 April 1914, 66 of Burston’s 72 pupils walked out in protest after their teachers, Annie (Kitty) Higdon and her husband Tom, were unfairly dismissed for challenging poor conditions and standing up for local farm labourers.

Led by 13‑year‑old Violet Potter, the children marched with placards demanding justice, refusing to accept the authority of those who believed working‑class families should “know their place.” Their strike sparked national attention, drawing support from trade unions, suffragists like Sylvia Pankhurst, and even international figures. Donations from labour organisations eventually funded a new Strike School building in 1917, which still stands today as a museum.

The strike lasted until 1939, a quarter of a century of resistance, community organising, and unwavering solidarity.

The Modern Rally: A Living Tradition of Working‑Class Resistance

Since 1983, the Burston Strike Rally has been revived annually on the first Sunday of September, organised by Unite as the inheritor of the rural and agricultural trade union tradition. It remains free to attend, funded entirely by trade unions.

Today, hundreds still gather to celebrate the courage of the Burston children and the Higdons, and to reflect on the ongoing struggle for dignity at work. The rally blends politics, music, speeches, and community, a reminder that the fight for fairness is never finished. In recent years, it has also become a space where new political voices emerge and where local communities come together to demand better futures.

Why Our Branch Attends — And Why We Must Keep This Story Alive

For us as a branch, attending Burston isn’t just tradition, it’s a commitment to the values that define our movement:

• Because Burston is a reminder of what collective action can achieve

The strike began with children refusing to accept injustice. Their courage shows that ordinary people, even the youngest, can reshape history when they stand together.

• Because the issues the Higdons fought remain relevant today

Poor working conditions, exploitation, unfair management decisions, and attempts to silence those who speak up are not relics of the past. They are challenges our members still face. Burston reminds us that resistance is both necessary and powerful.

• Because rural and agricultural workers’ struggles must not be forgotten

The rally honours the labour movement’s roots in communities where exploitation was often hidden behind the quietness of the countryside. Keeping this history alive ensures that rural workers are never overlooked again.

• Because solidarity is built through presence

When our branch attends, we show our members, and the wider movement, that we stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with those who came before us. We honour their sacrifices by continuing their work.

• Because Burston teaches us that education is political

The Higdons fought for children to learn in dignity, free from exploitation. Today, we continue that fight by empowering members with knowledge, rights, and confidence to challenge unfairness.

Keeping the Message Alive

Burston is not just a story of the past, it is a warning, an inspiration, and a call to action.

It tells us:

• Never accept injustice quietly.

• Never allow those in power to intimidate or silence working people.

• Never forget that solidarity can change the world.

By attending the rally, sharing its history, and teaching new members about its significance, we ensure that Burston remains a beacon of working‑class pride and resistance.