The third of July marked the FDA’s third centenary event, as politicians, civil servants and trade unionists gathered at the Senedd to wish the union a happy hundredth birthday.

President Fiona Eadie opened the celebration, which focussed on the union’s work in Wales. AM Dafydd Elis-Thomas (shown above) – Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism – then took to the podium, thanking FDA members (in Welsh) for their work and support in the development of the devolution project in Wales.

He was followed by Wales Trades Union Congress General Secretary Martin Mansfield, who stated that “the FDA punches above its weight in the trade union movement here in Wales”, and who spoke about members’ contribution to the work of WTUC. FDA General Secretary Dave Penman then addressed the crowd, and underscored the importance of civil service impartiality in these tumultuous times. 

Our next event will take place at Stormont, Northern Ireland, on the 23 October.