In the summer of 2016 a group of trade unionists and International Brigade Memorial Trust (IBMT) activists from across the North West crammed into a room in the Unite HQ, Jack Jones House. They were discussing the feasibility of a commemoration event in February 2017 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Jarama. The battle halted the fascist advance on Madrid during the Spanish Civil War of 1936 to 1939.

The meeting resulted in over 120 trade union supporters and IBMT members from Britain, Ireland, France and Germany travelling to Madrid. A key aim of the trip was educate those on it  and to link up with the CCOO, the largest trade union federation in Spain for a joint commemoration of the International Brigades heroic role in defending Madrid. Additionally we attended an event at the Atocha Memorial, dedicated to the memory of  the murder of 4 trade union lawyers working in the CCOO Offices in 1977, 2 years after the death of the fascist dictator, Franco, as Spain stumbled towards democracy.

Since our first trip we have organised numerous trips to Spain visiting various Civil War sites and attending the Atocha Memorial on 24 January every year.

We continue to organise trips and the next event will be attending the Atocha Memorial in January 2026 and planning events for 2027 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Atocha murders and the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Jarama.

Anyone interested in joining any of our trips and future events click here to email Steve Farley for details.. 

No Pasaran!