Fairtrade Foundation’s vision is of an even bigger movement for positive change on unfair trade.

Chelmsford residents are invited to celebrate the annual campaign of the Fairtrade Foundation which encourages people to buy products carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark. Leading personal injury and trade union law firm Thompsons Solicitors is again supporting Fairtrade Fortnight with two free legal surgeries for local people and trade unionists offering Fairtrade coffee, tea and chocolate on Saturday 3rd and Saturday 10th March between 12pm and 3pm.

Lawyers from the local office at Grosvenor House, 53 New London Road, Chelmsford will be on hand both days to offer free advice on any aspect of compensation rights for injury or disease. No booking is required; local residents are invited to simply turn up and meet informally with some of the most experienced personal injury lawyers in the South East.

Specialist Personal Injury and Employment Rights Lawyers

Thompsons provides legal support to trade unions and their members, and takes legal action to defend the interests of employees who have experienced personal injury or an infringement of rights at work. The team is currently involved in a number of leading cases for victims of asbestos disease, chemical poisoning and catastrophic injury. The firm is also involved in a number of initiatives and campaigns supporting local agricultural workers and workers in developing countries. 

Manager of the Chelmsford branch of Thompsons, Karen Mitchell explains: "Fairtrade Fortnight is an important initiative aimed at benefiting farmers and workers in developing countries. We want people to understand that by changing to the huge range of Fairtrade products now available they are empowering others to work for a better life. We look forward to welcoming local residents along to discuss their own experiences in a friendly and informal environment".

"Thompsons has a proud history of fighting for justice for working people, both in the UK and internationally. Six of our solicitors recently visited Colombia as part of delegations organised by Justice for Colombia. I also went as part of a lawyers delegation in May last year. We witnessed the terrible conditions and dangers that trade unionists face. Seeing the human and trade union rights abuses at first hand was confirmation of the vital need for the firm’s joint project to establish a trade union legal unit in the country."

Closer to home, the firm has a developing interest in the issue of migrant workers and the difficulties that trade unions face in recruiting and organising them. The working conditions that many migrant workers in the UK are forced to endure illustrate why solidarity work is not simply about exploitation happening in other countries.

‘Change Today - Choose Fairtrade’ is the theme of Fairtrade Fortnight 2007, and it is an urgent call to people in the UK to engage with the Fairtrade Foundation’s vision of an even bigger movement for positive change on unfair trade, including making the switch to buying Fairtrade products.