Emeritus Professor Sandra Bell represented GEMS as an invited speaker at an international workshop on community resilience and Just Transition in coalfield communities, organised two as a two day prelude to the Durham Miners’ Gala on 8 July. Co-organised with the Durham Miners’ Association, University College London, the Trades Union Congress’ northern region and industriAll Europe’s affiliate, Unite The Union, the programme focused on the transition efforts of trade unions in Europe’s coalfield regions and how they are being pursued in a context of the energy and cost-of-living crises. The workshop explored how the transition of coal communities is being managed in the different national contexts and how trade unions are currently dealing with the imminent dangers of political backlash and growing populist and far-right parties. Participants described their efforts to negotiate agreements to manage the job-to-job transitions, plan the re-cultivation of coalfield areas and offer support to former coal miners.
A larger public event is planned as part of the 2024 Miners Gala.