‘Special’ solidarity

Speaking to Unite Community coordinator Dave Condliffe on this dreary Monday morning it was clear that he was one person who definitely didn’t have the Monday blues.

Dave was still buoyed up after coming across a very special kind of solidarity when he met legendary ska band The Specials backstage at Splendour festival in Nottingham.

Dave arranged for Unite Community to have a stall at the festival on Saturday (July 18) night as a way of reconnecting the union with the community.

“We had a Unite tent and five volunteers came to help out,” said Dave.

“We handed out Community, industrial and political campaign materials. The crowd were great. I think local festivals are an excellent way to reconnect with the community.”

Dave’s initiative paid off. Unite was the only trade union to have a presence at the festival even though Dave says getting a stall there was really straightforward.

But the highlight of the night came when Dave got to meet headliners The Specials.

“I thought it would be really great to see if we could get some Unite flags up on the stage,” says Dave.

“I spoke to a roadie called Paul. He got me up on stage and John Bradbury, the drummer, sorted it so we could put our flags on the stage.”

Spurred on by seeing the Unite flags flying in the night breeze and by how accommodating the band had been Dave decided he would see if he could get them to sign a flag.

“I spoke to a woman called Laura from the string section. She got me backstage,” added Dave.

“They were all just so nice and welcoming. No arrogance just pleased to help,” said Dave. “I really was inspired by just how friendly everyone was and how supportive they all are of the work unions are doing. I told them ‘you keep playing and we’ll keep fighting!’”

The signed flag is now pride of place on Dave’s desk and a reminder of how hard work pays off.

While backstage Dave got chatting to John Bradbury who explained that the venue was used as Wayne Manor in the Batman film The Dark Knight Rises.

“John told me that our flag brought light to what had previously been a dark place. I loved that and will think of it whenever I look at the flag now,” said Dave.

It is actually not the first time that The Specials and Unite have met. Back in 2008 The Specials joined with Unite as part of the Rock Against Racism campaign. The band headlined at the 30 year anniversary concert in London’s Victoria Park.