A FREE learning event is being held to mark the 100 years since a Dorset union branch was founded.

The Dorset Unison local government branch is celebrating its centenary this year and organisers have teamed up with South West unionlearn to hold the event at Shire Hall in Dorchester on November 8.

Keith Hatch, of unionlearn, TUC’s learning and skills branch, said family history will also be a key theme at the event and organisers are encouraging as many union members and members of the public as possible to come.

Unison was formed in 1993 when several unions joined together.

Due to the merger, Dorchester Union has a ‘huge archive’ of members’ names – and it wants to find out more about them.

Organisers are now hoping to put together a booklet or book to celebrate 100 years of unions in Dorchester.

Roger Bell, lead coordinator for the event, said a similar project was undertaken for the 50th anniversary.

He said: “We have got a huge archive and we want people to come and have a look and find interesting stories from it.

“We have got lots of names of members and we want to find out who they were and where they came from – we don’t know a lot about those people.”

He added: “A booklet was produced for the 50th anniversary and we thought if they did it then, why can’t we do something similar now?”

Mr Bell said he hopes to attract volunteers to help with the project.

The event takes place from 11am to 3pm and includes tours of the Old Shire Hall court and cells.

Mr Hatch said: “Dorchester has a long history of connections with the unions and of course, Shire Hall was the location of the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ trial.

“The agricultural workers came before other unions, and this year is 180 years since that trial took place.

“Before the First World War was a period called the Great Unrest when a lot of local government union branches, such as Dorchester, were founded.”