Jobs for a Change facts for kids
The Jobs for a Change festivals were two big music events held in London, England, during the mid-1980s. These festivals were free to attend and drew huge crowds. They happened when many people in the UK didn't have jobs, during a long miners' strike, and as the government planned to close down London's local council.
The first festival in June 1984 on the South Bank had about 150,000 people. The second, in Battersea Park in July 1985, attracted around 250,000. Famous musicians like The Smiths, Billy Bragg, Aswad, and The Pogues performed. Besides music, there were also plays, comedy shows, films, art displays, talks, and stalls from different groups.
The Greater London Council (GLC) was London's local government from 1965 to 1986. They organized these festivals to show how they were trying to create jobs and help London's economy. They also held smaller concerts for people who were unemployed.
Tony Hollingsworth was the main person who set up and produced these events. He later organized two big concerts for Nelson Mandela, one asking for his release from prison and another celebrating it.
Jobs for a Change Festival: June 1984
The first Jobs for a Change festival was named after a GLC newspaper. The GLC wanted to make sure people knew about their efforts to fight unemployment and create jobs. They thought a big festival would be a great way to show the public what they were doing. It was also a way for the GLC to provide cultural events for Londoners.
The festival wasn't mainly about fighting the government's plan to close the GLC. Instead, it focused on showing positive ways the GLC was helping. Tony Hollingsworth made sure that while some music might be political, the stages were not used for political arguments or anti-government slogans. The goal was to show what the GLC was doing, not just to criticize.
The GLC brought in four experts to help organize the festival, with Tony Hollingsworth becoming the main organizer. He had experience from helping run the Glastonbury CND festivals before.
The event lasted 12 hours on a Sunday. It took place along a long part of the South Bank, including famous places like the Royal Festival Hall and the National Theatre.
There were two music stages. There were also plays, films, and talks by people like director Ken Loach. Many stalls were set up by community groups. There was an exhibition about the GLC's work and a long debate about jobs inside County Hall.
County Hall, usually a formal building, was filled with young people. They sat on grand staircases and in fancy corridors. At one point, miners' wives, including Anne Scargill, spoke in the council chamber.
Many artists performed, including The Smiths, Billy Bragg, Hank Wangford, and Aswad. They were chosen because they supported the cause or were willing to perform. Some artists wrote political songs. Tony Hollingsworth also invited black artists from the US and Africa to create a diverse mix.
One band was The Flying Pickets, known for their hit song Only You. Tony Hollingsworth got them to record a song called Give us Jobs, Jobs, Jobs for a Change. A record of this song was given away with Time Out magazine to promote the festival.
Ken Livingstone, the leader of the GLC, introduced The Smiths. He told the crowd how great the car park looked with so many people. The crowd, perhaps 50,000 strong, cheered loudly. It was a perfect way to end the day, showing how entertainment could create a positive atmosphere around the idea of "Jobs for a Change."
Livingstone later remembered keeping his speech short. He quickly spoke about politics before introducing the band. The crowd cheered, showing they were there for the music, not long speeches.
The day was mostly peaceful, except for one incident. When The Redskins, a band known for their far-left politics, were playing, some National Front supporters arrived. A fight broke out, and some of them rushed the stage, hurting a guitarist. The festival security, who were striking Yorkshire miners, chased them away. The miners were hired by Tony Hollingsworth to help their strike fund.
Jobs for a Change Festival: July 1985
The GLC thought the 1984 festival was a big success. So, they decided to hold another one in July 1985 in Battersea Park. This event was even bigger, attracting 250,000 people. It was part of what the GLC called "Jobs Year," similar to "Anti-Racist Year" in 1984 and "Peace Year" in 1983.
Five stages were set up for about 30 music acts. There were also two theatre tents, a poetry and cabaret tent, an art exhibition, a sports area, and a children's area. The children's area offered pony rides, storytelling, face-painting, and a fairground. About 250 stalls were run by community groups.
Musicians included Billy Bragg, Hank Wangford, Aswad, The Pogues, and The Communards. The stages had different types of music. The main stage featured artists like Ravi Shankar from India, Thomas Mapfumo from Africa, and the pop band OMD.
Another stage was for newer, exciting pop acts like The Pogues, who were so popular that people climbed trees to see them. A third stage played African and Latin music, and a fourth was for DJs and rapping. These two stages attracted over 10,000 people who stayed all day. A fifth stage, called "Cowboys for Jobs," was for musicians to have fun.
When the GLC tried to book Battersea Park, they found that a part of it was already booked by a local trade union council. The council agreed to give up their part if their name was on the GLC posters and if they could organize the beer tent. Tony Hollingsworth agreed to let them run the beer tent after a detailed plan was made.
This led to the formation of the Workers Beer Company. This company later got more contracts from Hollingsworth for other events, including the Glastonbury CND festival. The Workers Beer Company has been running festival bars ever since. It helps raise money for trade unions and supports other organizations.
The Message of the Festivals
Some people criticized the GLC for spending public money on popular music festivals. However, the GLC believed it was their job to provide culture and entertainment for all Londoners, especially young people. They felt that most people who attended the festivals had a great time.
The Battersea festival cost about £200,000. Tony Hollingsworth said this was "very cost-effective" because with 250,000 people attending, the cost was less than £1 per person.
While long political speeches were not allowed on the music stages, there were short talks between acts. Many believed that the true political message of the festivals came from the overall feeling they created, not just from spoken words. The festivals showed a strong image of different cultures and political ideas coming together. This image likely helped people understand more about social issues than just getting information about jobs.
