From STUC, Mon 29 Nov 2010:
"The STUC's 'There is a Better Way Campaign' will be debated in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 2nd December at 5pm. Elaine Smith MSP has tabled a Member’s motion for debate. This has received considerable support.
"Please contact your MSPs (regional and constituency) to urge them to attend the session at Parliament. If your MSPs have not yet signed the Motion, please ask them to do so."
Scottish Parliament Resolution S3M-07227
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Scottish Labour):
There Is a Better Way
That the Parliament commends the STUC on the launch of its There is a Better Way campaign; believes that deep, savage and immediate cuts are neither unavoidable nor inevitable and that they would actually threaten economic recovery *across Scotland and in areas such as Coatbridge and Chryston*; further believes that a sensible and sustainable response to the current economic crisis is to promote growth and ensure fairness through creating jobs and protecting services, through fair taxation and a living wage, and *would welcome widespread support for the STUC campaign*.
Supported by: Bill Butler, Dr Bill Wilson, Jackie Baillie, Patrick Harvie, Pauline McNeill, John Park, Patricia Ferguson, Marlyn Glen, Rt Hon George Foulkes, Rhona Brankin, Bill Kidd, Cathy Jamieson, Mary Mulligan, Mr Frank McAveety, Ken Macintosh, Michael McMahon, Bob Doris, Sandra White, Sarah Boyack, Karen Whitefield, Dr Elaine Murray, Charlie Gordon, Rhoda Grant, Des McNulty, David Whitton, James Kelly, Cathy Peattie, Malcolm Chisholm, Brian Adam, Jamie Hepburn, Maureen Watt, Hugh Henry, Linda Fabiani, Stuart McMillan, Joe FitzPatrick, Marilyn Livingstone, Dave Thompson, Robin Harper
You can find your MSPs here:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/MSPAddressPostcodeFinder.htm
You could also supply your MSPs with additional information about the impact of public spending cuts locally and in your industry, and encourage them to raise particular points in the debate on Thursday in the Parliament.
In the Member’s parliamentary debate there is no vote taken, but a Scottish Government Minister will respond to points raised in the discussion.
ATTEND THE DEBATE 5pm THURSDAY 2nd DECEMBER
Please also encourage your members to come along and fill the public gallery. This will help raise the profile of the campaign and highlight the concerns of many groups and trade unions in Scotland.
Details for Visitor tickets to the Parliament :
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/visitingHolyrood/chamberTickets.htm#chambertickets
PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON, THANK YOU
Ann Henderson
Assistant Secretary
STUC
Mobile: 07875 208167
Email: ahenderson@stuc.org.uk
.
Showing posts with label STUC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label STUC. Show all posts
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
UNISON calls on Scottish government to protect public services
Date: Tuesday 16 November 2010
UNISON Scotland has called on the Scottish Government to issue a budget that protects public services and avoids the ideological cuts imposed by the UK Government.
While precise figures will not be known until the Government publishes its spending review and draft budget tomorrow (Wednesday), UNISON Scotland’s analysis of planned local budgets shows that councils and health boards are planning much greater cuts than the Scottish budget would indicate.
UNISON’s Scottish organiser Dave Watson said: "There’s a real lack of understanding about the deficit and many believe that cuts in public spending are both essential and inevitable – they’re not.
“The cuts are already impacting on service delivery while demand is increasing. Some 60,000 public sector and 65,000 private sector jobs could go in Scotland because of these cuts, costing the Treasury around £500m in lost tax revenue and £640m in increased benefit payments. This not only adds to the annual deficit, it almost entirely cancels out the saving to the public sector pay-bill. And these cuts don’t just mean job losses, they mean the loss of vital public services that we all rely on.”
The cuts will put further pressure on public bodies which are already facing increased demands on services due to the recession, reductions in income, the council tax freeze and cuts in business rates.
Dave Watson added: “We expect the Scottish Government to articulate an alternative economic approach based on the Better Way promoted by the trade unions in Scotland. This approach, based on fair taxation and cutting real waste, is more in tune with Scottish opinion than the ideological cuts imposed by the Tories and their Liberal partners.”
ends
Notes to editors
1. For more information on UNISON’s alternative to the cuts visit www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks
2. Trade unionists and service users from across the country will lobby their MSPs at the Scottish Parliament tomorrow (Wednesday) ahead of the Scottish Spending Review. The STUC-organised lobby is part of the There Is A Better Way campaign. For more information visit www.thereisabetterway.org
.
UNISON Scotland has called on the Scottish Government to issue a budget that protects public services and avoids the ideological cuts imposed by the UK Government.
While precise figures will not be known until the Government publishes its spending review and draft budget tomorrow (Wednesday), UNISON Scotland’s analysis of planned local budgets shows that councils and health boards are planning much greater cuts than the Scottish budget would indicate.
UNISON’s Scottish organiser Dave Watson said: "There’s a real lack of understanding about the deficit and many believe that cuts in public spending are both essential and inevitable – they’re not.
“The cuts are already impacting on service delivery while demand is increasing. Some 60,000 public sector and 65,000 private sector jobs could go in Scotland because of these cuts, costing the Treasury around £500m in lost tax revenue and £640m in increased benefit payments. This not only adds to the annual deficit, it almost entirely cancels out the saving to the public sector pay-bill. And these cuts don’t just mean job losses, they mean the loss of vital public services that we all rely on.”
The cuts will put further pressure on public bodies which are already facing increased demands on services due to the recession, reductions in income, the council tax freeze and cuts in business rates.
Dave Watson added: “We expect the Scottish Government to articulate an alternative economic approach based on the Better Way promoted by the trade unions in Scotland. This approach, based on fair taxation and cutting real waste, is more in tune with Scottish opinion than the ideological cuts imposed by the Tories and their Liberal partners.”
ends
Notes to editors
1. For more information on UNISON’s alternative to the cuts visit www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks
2. Trade unionists and service users from across the country will lobby their MSPs at the Scottish Parliament tomorrow (Wednesday) ahead of the Scottish Spending Review. The STUC-organised lobby is part of the There Is A Better Way campaign. For more information visit www.thereisabetterway.org
.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sunday Mail: 20,000 Scots take to streets of Edinburgh to protest against spending cuts
Oct 24 2010 Mark Aitken, Sunday Mail
 |
 |
More than 20,000 joined a rally in Edinburgh to oppose the spending review announced by the Con Dem coalition on Wednesday.
Union leaders warned of strike action over the slashing of public services, which will see Scotland lose around £3billion over the next four years.
Up to 50,000 of the 500,000 public service jobs under threat will be lost in Scotland and the same number could go in the private sector.
The Scottish Trades Union Congress organised the rally and general secretary Grahame Smith said: "If members decide that the best way is to take industrial action then they will do that. I'm not saying that as a threat, but as a fact.
"We want to work constructively with employers but if they are not willing to do that then members will take action to protect their rights."
Full story at Sunday Mail website
More UNISON pics and story to follow here on this blog and on UNISON Scotland website.
.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
STV: 20,000 take part in Edinburgh cuts protest
23 October 2010 12:39 GMT
More than 20,000 people took to the streets of Edinburgh in a demonstration against cuts to public services.
The march and rally took in unions, political groups and concerned members of the public in a show of unity against the UK Government's spending review.
Organised by the Scottish Trades Union Congress, it aimed to highlight fears about the impact of Chancellor George Osborne's savings package.
Huge cuts amounting to about £81billion across the UK were unveiled on Wednesday - and Scotland is expected to lose about £3 billion over the next four years.
The colourful procession gathered outside City of Edinburgh Council headquarters and stretched at its peak along the entire route to Princes Street Gardens, exceeding organisers' expectations.
Full story at STV website
More UNISON pics and story to follow here on this blog and on UNISON Scotland website.
BBC Scotland: Unions protest in Edinburgh over public sector cuts
23 October 2010Last updated at 15:09
Union group the STUC arranged the event to demonstrate against measures in the UK government's Spending Review.
STUC general secretary Grahame Smith said: "We launched this campaign to dispel the myth that there is no economic alternative to these cuts.
"There is an alternative. Get people back to work, get the economy growing again, and the public finances will largely take care of themselves.
"We also launched this campaign to expose the lie that it is those with the broadest shoulders that will bear the brunt of the cuts."
Union leaders said they had been "overwhelmed" by the response to the protest rally attended by people from across Scotland.
See full story at BBC Scotland News
More UNISON pics and story to follow here on this blog and on UNISON Scotland website.
.
A rally in Edinburgh to protest at public sector cuts was attended by more than 20,000 demonstrators.
Union group the STUC arranged the event to demonstrate against measures in the UK government's Spending Review.
STUC general secretary Grahame Smith said: "We launched this campaign to dispel the myth that there is no economic alternative to these cuts.
"There is an alternative. Get people back to work, get the economy growing again, and the public finances will largely take care of themselves.
"We also launched this campaign to expose the lie that it is those with the broadest shoulders that will bear the brunt of the cuts."
Union leaders said they had been "overwhelmed" by the response to the protest rally attended by people from across Scotland.
See full story at BBC Scotland News
More UNISON pics and story to follow here on this blog and on UNISON Scotland website.
.
Friday, October 22, 2010
STUC predicts major turnout for There is a Better Way march and rally in Edinburgh
STUC General Secretary, Grahame Smith said:
“Given that we called this event as a launch rather than an end point for our campaign, we are both surprised and delighted by the response we are receiving - not just from our members but from wider Scottish society.
“The intensity of the response will only increase when the implications of the Comprehensive Spending Review sink in over the next two days.
“You only have to look at the list of organisations attending and sending supportive messages to understand the depth of anger and growing level of support for the campaign.”
Notes:
On 23rd STUC will announce a range of future protest activities as well as committing to joint campaigning work with Scotland’s key civic and community organisations.
March details:
Arrangements
The march musters 11.00am at East Market Street Edinburgh at the south side of Waverly Station.
The march will set off at 11.30am. It will travel a route along Princes Street.At approximately 12.30am the march will assemble at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Gardens.The rally will begin at some stage between 12.30 and 1pm depending on the size of the march.
.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
STUC: today's deep and immediate cuts will have "devastating impact across Scotland"
20 Oct 2010
Responding to the Spending Review announced by the Chancellor today, Grahame Smith, (Scottish Trades Union Congress) STUC General Secretary said:
“The deep and immediate cuts announced today by George Osborne will have a devastating impact on workers, communities and businesses across Scotland. It is disappointing if hardly surprising that he took the opportunity to repeat every myth and distortion on the origins and extent of the current economic crisis peddled by this administration.
“The cuts are not unavoidable and the coalitions programme is not fair and progressive. It is simply provocative to continually assert that ‘we are all in this together’. It is shocking that benefit recipients, the most vulnerable members of our society, are being forced to shoulder the steepest cuts, apparently in order to allow the Chancellor to seek to score a cheap political point.
“The spending plans announced today do nothing to address rising unemployment or to provide effective assistance to the unemployed. The Government argues that jobs growth in the private sector will more than compensate for the half a million jobs it predicts will be lost from the public sector over this spending review period. And yet, only this morning, the Bank of England has stated that ‘private sector remains very cautious about expanding the labour force’.
“At the There is a Better Way march and rally on Saturday in Edinburgh, the workers and communities of Scotland will send a very clear message to the Chancellor and his coalition colleagues that they will not accept these brazenly ideological cuts without a fight. The Government will do well to listen.”
.
 |
| Demo Sat 23 Oct |
“The deep and immediate cuts announced today by George Osborne will have a devastating impact on workers, communities and businesses across Scotland. It is disappointing if hardly surprising that he took the opportunity to repeat every myth and distortion on the origins and extent of the current economic crisis peddled by this administration.
“The cuts are not unavoidable and the coalitions programme is not fair and progressive. It is simply provocative to continually assert that ‘we are all in this together’. It is shocking that benefit recipients, the most vulnerable members of our society, are being forced to shoulder the steepest cuts, apparently in order to allow the Chancellor to seek to score a cheap political point.
“The spending plans announced today do nothing to address rising unemployment or to provide effective assistance to the unemployed. The Government argues that jobs growth in the private sector will more than compensate for the half a million jobs it predicts will be lost from the public sector over this spending review period. And yet, only this morning, the Bank of England has stated that ‘private sector remains very cautious about expanding the labour force’.
“At the There is a Better Way march and rally on Saturday in Edinburgh, the workers and communities of Scotland will send a very clear message to the Chancellor and his coalition colleagues that they will not accept these brazenly ideological cuts without a fight. The Government will do well to listen.”
.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
STUC welcomes Hutton acceptance that public pensions are not ‘gold plated’
7 October 2010
The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has welcomed the acknowledgement from Lord Hutton that public sector pensions are not ‘gold plated’ following the publication of his report into public sector pensions.
Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary said:
“While welcoming Lord Hutton’s acceptance that defined contribution or money purchase schemes are not the way forward for public sector workers we are concerned that the proposal of higher contributions from public sector workers may reduce the number of members who choose to enter pensions schemes.
“This is self defeating as future Governments will have to meet the cost of supporting public service workers who retire without pensions. Our fear is that those increased contributions will hit the most vulnerable workers, the low paid and part-time workers who are predominantly women.
“The coalition Government when considering Lord Hutton’s recommendations should remember that public sector pensions schemes have already undergone substantial change with retirement ages in many being raised to 65 in line with the private sector.
“The Government should also review the current method of evaluating pension schemes to provide a more accurate and realistic projection of scheme liabilities.
“The myth that public sector pensions are ‘gold plated’ derives from the race to devalue private sector pensions driven by the greed of large corporations and their share holders, It is deceitful for organisations such as the Institute of Directors to justify transferring the risk for pensions savings to public sector workers to legitimise the tactics of private sector employers”
STUC News Release:
http://www.stuc.org.uk/news/785/stuc-welcomes-hutton-acceptance-that-public-pensions-are-not-gold-plated
.
The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has welcomed the acknowledgement from Lord Hutton that public sector pensions are not ‘gold plated’ following the publication of his report into public sector pensions.
Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary said:
“While welcoming Lord Hutton’s acceptance that defined contribution or money purchase schemes are not the way forward for public sector workers we are concerned that the proposal of higher contributions from public sector workers may reduce the number of members who choose to enter pensions schemes.
“This is self defeating as future Governments will have to meet the cost of supporting public service workers who retire without pensions. Our fear is that those increased contributions will hit the most vulnerable workers, the low paid and part-time workers who are predominantly women.
“The coalition Government when considering Lord Hutton’s recommendations should remember that public sector pensions schemes have already undergone substantial change with retirement ages in many being raised to 65 in line with the private sector.
“The Government should also review the current method of evaluating pension schemes to provide a more accurate and realistic projection of scheme liabilities.
“The myth that public sector pensions are ‘gold plated’ derives from the race to devalue private sector pensions driven by the greed of large corporations and their share holders, It is deceitful for organisations such as the Institute of Directors to justify transferring the risk for pensions savings to public sector workers to legitimise the tactics of private sector employers”
STUC News Release:
http://www.stuc.org.uk/news/785/stuc-welcomes-hutton-acceptance-that-public-pensions-are-not-gold-plated
.
Monday, October 4, 2010
STUC slams Chancellor’s Tory Conference speech
October 4th 2010
Commenting after George Osborne had delivered his speech to the Conservative Party Conference, Grahame Smith, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary said:
“It is hugely unfortunate that the Chancellor has used this occasion to shamelessly repeat every distortion used to justify Coalition policy. The implications for growth and employment across Scotland and the UK are dire.
“The Chancellor tries to further embed the conventional wisdom that there is a consensus in favour of massive and rapid cuts. He invokes the ‘bond markets’ as supporters of austerity but fails to cite evidence in this regard because none exists. He chooses to ignore that the OECD’s ‘support’ for his austerity programme has been weak and inconsistent. He appears unaware that the rating agencies are wholly discredited.
“He wilfully ignores those other authoritative voices who continue to challenge Coalition policy: Nobel Economic laureates such as Stiglitz and Krugman, dozens of prominent UK and international economists, the Chief Economic Commentator at the FT and a wide range of civic organisations.
“The Chancellor deliberately sets out to confuse by claiming that anything other than strict adherence to the emergency Budget programme will provoke ‘market turmoil’. Once again, the implication is that austerity will be rewarded by the markets when evidence from the Eurozone suggests that the opposite is true. The fact is that interest rates on index-linked gilts have been 1 per cent or less for more than a year and spreads over German bunds have been 1 percentage point, or less, throughout the crisis. The market view of the UK’s credit worthiness is clearly not contingent on the cuts programme laid out in the emergency Budget.
“A mature reassessment of the fiscal position at the Spending Review is essential. It is highly likely that a new programme, one that makes consolidation contingent on growth, would be rewarded by the markets.
“The Chancellor’s brazen ignorance of the daily challenges facing those in poverty is shocking. Benefit recipients will be justifiably appalled that the Chancellor thinks the current system amounts to an ‘open ended cheque book’.
“This speech has done nothing to dispel the notion that the Chancellor’s approach is ideological not pragmatic. He describes unions as a vested interest but goes on to cite employer lobbying bodies as if they are an independent voice of reason. The British people will see through this.”
Press release on STUC website:
http://www.stuc.org.uk/news/784/stuc-on-chancellor-s-conference-speech
See also STUC's There is a Better Way site http://www.thereisabetterway.org/ for more on ConDem cuts and the need for properly funded public services.
.
Commenting after George Osborne had delivered his speech to the Conservative Party Conference, Grahame Smith, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary said:
“It is hugely unfortunate that the Chancellor has used this occasion to shamelessly repeat every distortion used to justify Coalition policy. The implications for growth and employment across Scotland and the UK are dire.
“The Chancellor tries to further embed the conventional wisdom that there is a consensus in favour of massive and rapid cuts. He invokes the ‘bond markets’ as supporters of austerity but fails to cite evidence in this regard because none exists. He chooses to ignore that the OECD’s ‘support’ for his austerity programme has been weak and inconsistent. He appears unaware that the rating agencies are wholly discredited.
“He wilfully ignores those other authoritative voices who continue to challenge Coalition policy: Nobel Economic laureates such as Stiglitz and Krugman, dozens of prominent UK and international economists, the Chief Economic Commentator at the FT and a wide range of civic organisations.
“The Chancellor deliberately sets out to confuse by claiming that anything other than strict adherence to the emergency Budget programme will provoke ‘market turmoil’. Once again, the implication is that austerity will be rewarded by the markets when evidence from the Eurozone suggests that the opposite is true. The fact is that interest rates on index-linked gilts have been 1 per cent or less for more than a year and spreads over German bunds have been 1 percentage point, or less, throughout the crisis. The market view of the UK’s credit worthiness is clearly not contingent on the cuts programme laid out in the emergency Budget.
“A mature reassessment of the fiscal position at the Spending Review is essential. It is highly likely that a new programme, one that makes consolidation contingent on growth, would be rewarded by the markets.
“The Chancellor’s brazen ignorance of the daily challenges facing those in poverty is shocking. Benefit recipients will be justifiably appalled that the Chancellor thinks the current system amounts to an ‘open ended cheque book’.
“This speech has done nothing to dispel the notion that the Chancellor’s approach is ideological not pragmatic. He describes unions as a vested interest but goes on to cite employer lobbying bodies as if they are an independent voice of reason. The British people will see through this.”
Press release on STUC website:
http://www.stuc.org.uk/news/784/stuc-on-chancellor-s-conference-speech
See also STUC's There is a Better Way site http://www.thereisabetterway.org/ for more on ConDem cuts and the need for properly funded public services.
.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Reports from STUC black workers conference
UNISON's Nahid Aslam is sending up to the minute reports from this weekend's STUC Black Workers' Confrerence in Glasgow at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/blackmembers/bmstucconf.html
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Scottish TUC: Unwise and unfair budget will meet with growing protest
June 22nd 2010
From Scottish TUC
"Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary Grahame Smith pledged the STUC to coordinate a Scotland-wide campaign against measures announced in the emergency budget which will hit the poor hardest and offers little hope for young people or the future”.
“This budget is unwise and unfair. It will hit the poor hardest, offers little hope for young people and is likely to fail in its central purpose of reducing the deficit. Neither softer language nor the fig-leaf of Lib-Dem support can hide the fact that this is a largely ideological budget hiding behind the fallacy there is only one path to deficit reduction.
...
Today’s localised protests against the emergency budget will make way for a coordinated campaign in Scotland of opposition to these proposed cuts, running up to the Comprehensive Spending Review later this year. STUC intends to mobilize a campaign across Scotland to show that there is a better way to deal with the deficit based on growth through protecting jobs and services and justice through fair taxation and living wages."
Read more at www.stuc.org.uk/news/759/unwise-and-unfair-budget-will-meet-with-growing-protest-in-scotland-and-beyond
STUC site http://www.stuc.org.uk/
.
From Scottish TUC
"Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary Grahame Smith pledged the STUC to coordinate a Scotland-wide campaign against measures announced in the emergency budget which will hit the poor hardest and offers little hope for young people or the future”.
“This budget is unwise and unfair. It will hit the poor hardest, offers little hope for young people and is likely to fail in its central purpose of reducing the deficit. Neither softer language nor the fig-leaf of Lib-Dem support can hide the fact that this is a largely ideological budget hiding behind the fallacy there is only one path to deficit reduction.
...
Today’s localised protests against the emergency budget will make way for a coordinated campaign in Scotland of opposition to these proposed cuts, running up to the Comprehensive Spending Review later this year. STUC intends to mobilize a campaign across Scotland to show that there is a better way to deal with the deficit based on growth through protecting jobs and services and justice through fair taxation and living wages."
Read more at www.stuc.org.uk/news/759/unwise-and-unfair-budget-will-meet-with-growing-protest-in-scotland-and-beyond
STUC site http://www.stuc.org.uk/
.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
UNISON calls for action to end work-related deaths and injuries
Tue 27 April 2010
Further action must be taken to combat "unacceptable levels" of deaths at work, and of work-related injuries and illnesses. That’s the message from UNISON on International Workers Memorial Day.
In a move welcomed by UNISON, International Workers Memorial Day, held annually on 28 April, is being officially recognised by the UK Government for the first time.
UNISON Scottish Secretary, Matt Smith will attend the main Workers Memorial Day ceremony in Glasgow's George Square, where he will lay a wreath on behalf of UNISON Scotland's 170,000 members in memory of all workers who have died as a result of their work.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony he said;
"70% of workplace accidents are due to poor management on health and safety. This means deaths at work are avoidable. But the alarming cuts in public spending which all the main parties have been proposing can only result in more danger for people at work.
"We welcome the official recognition of International Workers Memorial Day by the UK Government. Formal recognition reinforces the significance of the Day and raises awareness of the number of people who are killed, disabled, injured or made unwell through their work.
"We know, however, that recognition of International Workers Memorial Day will only be of value if it results in greater awareness of the unacceptable levels of deaths at work, and of work-related injuries and illnesses - and in practical action to combat these."
Scott Donohoe, Chair of UNISON Scotland’s Health & Safety Committee said:
“At a time when business and other vested interests are campaigning for proper health and safety laws to be replaced by deregulation, with companies being allowed to carry out their own health & safety audits, trade unions need to ensure that these hard-fought for rights are not eroded when employers campaign against red tape. Health & safety rules and regulations are an essential protection from employers who would put profit above the safety of their staff and the public.”
UNISON branches across Scotland will take part in ceremonies organised by local Trade Union Councils, and some will participate in activity organised jointly with local authorities.
UNISON Staff and members will hold a minute's silence at UNISON offices across Scotland.
Notes for editors
Full details of these events can be found at www.stuc.org.uk, the website of the Scottish TUC which is co-ordinating International Workers Memorial Day in Scotland.
.
Further action must be taken to combat "unacceptable levels" of deaths at work, and of work-related injuries and illnesses. That’s the message from UNISON on International Workers Memorial Day.
In a move welcomed by UNISON, International Workers Memorial Day, held annually on 28 April, is being officially recognised by the UK Government for the first time.
UNISON Scottish Secretary, Matt Smith will attend the main Workers Memorial Day ceremony in Glasgow's George Square, where he will lay a wreath on behalf of UNISON Scotland's 170,000 members in memory of all workers who have died as a result of their work.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony he said;
"70% of workplace accidents are due to poor management on health and safety. This means deaths at work are avoidable. But the alarming cuts in public spending which all the main parties have been proposing can only result in more danger for people at work.
"We welcome the official recognition of International Workers Memorial Day by the UK Government. Formal recognition reinforces the significance of the Day and raises awareness of the number of people who are killed, disabled, injured or made unwell through their work.
"We know, however, that recognition of International Workers Memorial Day will only be of value if it results in greater awareness of the unacceptable levels of deaths at work, and of work-related injuries and illnesses - and in practical action to combat these."
Scott Donohoe, Chair of UNISON Scotland’s Health & Safety Committee said:
“At a time when business and other vested interests are campaigning for proper health and safety laws to be replaced by deregulation, with companies being allowed to carry out their own health & safety audits, trade unions need to ensure that these hard-fought for rights are not eroded when employers campaign against red tape. Health & safety rules and regulations are an essential protection from employers who would put profit above the safety of their staff and the public.”
UNISON branches across Scotland will take part in ceremonies organised by local Trade Union Councils, and some will participate in activity organised jointly with local authorities.
UNISON Staff and members will hold a minute's silence at UNISON offices across Scotland.
Notes for editors
Full details of these events can be found at www.stuc.org.uk, the website of the Scottish TUC which is co-ordinating International Workers Memorial Day in Scotland.
.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
STUC: Sharks are circling again for Scottish Water
UNISON's Dave Watson warned that 'the sharks are circling again' as the CBI and right wing think tanks campaign for Water privatisation. UNISON's Dave Watson warned that 'the sharks are circling again' as the CBI and right wing think tanks campaign for Water privatisation. Read more at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/stuc2010/9.html
.
.
.
.
STUC: Rebuilding collective prosperity - a charter for public services
STUC: UNISON's Matt Smith lays out a strategy for public services. "saying to the people of Scotland that we will not stand idly by while attempts are made to make the many pay for the greed and folly of a wealthy few". Read more at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/stuc2010/8.html
.
.
STUC: Alliance to challenge local government cuts: 'Service users pay three times as Edinburgh Council prepares for sell-off Proposals', says UNISON
UNISON's John Stevenson pledges that, standing up for jobs and services, the union would make sure that the public knew exactly what is happening. "Edinburgh is Not for Sale", he said. Read more at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/stuc2010/7.html
.
.
Monday, April 19, 2010
STUC: Re-visit bus deregulation to address failures of Thatcher
Fractured and inconsistent bus services with not enough new build means bus services cannot be left exclusively to the private market, said the STUC backing a motion from Unite. "There is no bigger barrier for disabled people than the design of, and access to public transport. Although Charlie's bill was a small step for disabled people, it was nevertheless, an important one", says UNISON's John Nisbet.
.
.
STUC: Children must have a right to music in schools
Seconding a Musicians' Union motion, UNISON's John Stevenson said that the chance to learn a musical instrument is crucial to encouraging creativity.
See more at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/stuc2010/5.html
.
See more at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/stuc2010/5.html
.
STUC: Councils must deliver on additional support needs for children
The STUC urged all local authorities to make sure that children with additional support needs continue to get thre services they are entitled to in law to support them to achieve their potential.
Supporting a motion from the Educational Institute of Scotland, UNISON's Sam McCartney stressed the key role of UNISON members like classroom assistants andsupport for learning auxiliaries in providing support to ensure children can access all parts of the school curriculum.
"Sadly these can be the very posts most vulnerable to cutbacks with the resulting impact on the education of our most vulnerable children. This must not be allowed to happen.", said Sam.
More STUC news at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/stuc2010/index.html
.
Supporting a motion from the Educational Institute of Scotland, UNISON's Sam McCartney stressed the key role of UNISON members like classroom assistants andsupport for learning auxiliaries in providing support to ensure children can access all parts of the school curriculum.
"Sadly these can be the very posts most vulnerable to cutbacks with the resulting impact on the education of our most vulnerable children. This must not be allowed to happen.", said Sam.
More STUC news at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/stuc2010/index.html
.
STUC: Building a sustainable economy: Invest in training and jobs and restore trade union rights
The 113th Scottish Trade Union Congress kicked off today by slamming the 'unjust and inefficient' banking model that led to the financial crisis.
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/stuc2010/2.html
.
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/stuc2010/2.html
.
Pensions – private sector cutbacks threaten burden on the state
The action of private sector bosses in cutting staff’s pensions is likely to threaten the UK’s economy, UNISON's Mike Kirby told the STUC today. Mike, UNISON Scotland Convener, pointed to the closure of large numbers of decent private sector pension schemes, and raise the spectre of a huge increase in benefits demands by their shortchanged staff.He said, “Far from the tired old myth peddled by the CBI and the Tax Dodgers Alliance - that public sector pensions are unsustainable, and a huge drain on the taxpayer - the real demand on the taxpayer is likely to come from employees of their own members who have had fair pensions cut, while their bosses protect their own large pensions. The private sector wants the public purse to bail out their employees pensions shortfall, just as it bailed out the busted banks and caused this recession.”
The STUC called on government to maintain fair and decent public sector pensions, and not to heed misleading calls by the private sector and the media condemning public service workers to reliance on means-tested benefits.
Mike said, “The real time-bomb for the taxpayer is the means-tested benefits bill, and increased take up of social care and health services to support people who have been shut out of saving for their retirement. We already face such demands thanks to the irresponsible actions of the banking fat cats like those at Goldman Sachs, and the selfish actions of private firms cutting their own staff pensions. Closing public sector schemes would see the bill to the taxpayer rocket by billions.”
The STUC unanimously backed a call for decent pensions for all workers, public and private sector, and go on to call for an increased state pension, linked to earnings.
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)