ATUC - leading in disabilities since the 1800s - celebrates Disability History Month

Aberdeen Trades Union Council is celebrating Disability History Month which takes place between the 18th November to the 20 December every year.

With a theme this year of Access: How far have we come? How far have we to go? it is timely to note that Aberdeen Trades Union Council's (ATUC) involvement with and support of disabled workers isn't new.

ATUC has a long history of campaigning for equalities and has been disability friendly from as far back as 1886, when two blind delegates attended Trades Union Council meetings for the first time. The two delegates were Mr  Johnston and Mr John Keir.  Keir had lost his sight as a result of an accident he had as a child aged four.

John Keir who was originally from Strathdon, went on to serve as ATUC President from 1895 – 1898 and he was also the Vice President  between 1888 - 1893.  He had an incredible memory for facts and figures and he barely got a delegate’s name wrong if at all.  John Keir was also the STUC President for a year 1898 when the STUC held their second conference which was in Aberdeen. Not only was Keir one of the former ATUC presidents he had also was one of the directors of the Co-operative and elected to the school board in 1894 and became chairman in 1911.

Please join the ATUC St Andrew's Day anti-racism and anti-fascism rally on 28th Nov and stand up for equality and fairness

 Aberdeen Trade Union Council will be hosting our St Andrew's Day anti-racism and anti-fascism rally online on Saturday 28th November at 12.15pm and we encourage all our delegates, associates, friends and family to join us.

 We have an excellent line-up of local speakers as well as some poetry and music, and it promises to be an entertaining and also inspiring event.

To see more details and to join the event go to the ATUC Facebook event.

The event takes place right after the STUC's online event so why not join both?

Acting President, Graeme Farquhar said, "It has never been more important to stand up against all forms of discrimination. We have seen during the pandemic the disproportionate impact on our Black and ethnic minority workers as well as on other equality groups.

Please join us to celebrate Disability History Month with booklet launch on Disability History

ATUC affiliate, Aberdeenshire UNISON will celebrate Disability History Month and the International Day of People with Disabilities on 3rd December 4-5pm with an online event.

This event  will also see the launch of a booklet, Disability History: Fascinating Facts, penned by branch equalities officer, Kathleen Kennedy.

All our delegates, associates, friends and families are warmly invited to attend.

You can join from your computer, tablet or smartphone. 

Go to the Facebook event for more details and full joining instructions.

The theme, ‘turning disability into ability’ focusses on the achievements of disabled people.  The Fascinating Facts booklet looks at disability over the past 200 years with a particular spotlight on the North East of Scotland. As well as the historical context it also includes features on prominent local disabled people who have achieved great things.

ATUC remembers the war dead at private wreath laying ceremony

Aberdeen Trade Union Council has paid its own tribute to the fallen of both world wars and other conflicts, as delegate Donna Clark laid a wreath at the War Memorial in Aberdeen.

In past years ATUC would have been part of the formal council ceremony to commemorate those who lost their lives in war. 

However, because of Covid, the council ceremony was a much smaller affair this year and Donna, on behalf of the ATUC laid a wreath at a private ceremony on Remembrance Sunday afternoon, 8th November.

The Scottish Government must put its money where its mouth is on Just Transition

Aberdeen Trade Union Council (ATUC) at its monthly virtual meeting on Wednesday 4th November, unanimously condemned the Scottish Government's decision to outsource the manufacturing work of offshore windfarm contracts that could and should have been manufactured in Scotland.

Aberdeen TUC delegates are very alarmed that the Scottish Government speaks well when talking of a Just Transition but takes business decisions that act contrary to the spirit and intent of its own policy and against the interest of workers and their families in Scotland.

ATUC Executive member and Aberdeenshire UNISON Green Champion, Steve Gray said, "Now is the time for a Just Transition in Scotland. We need to move towards a modern low-carbon economy in ways which protect not only the environment, but also workers’ livelihoods, particularly those who currently work offshore and in sectors reliant on fossil fuels.

"Radical action is needed now to avert the environmental and economic costs of climate change. We need to move towards a planned economy that has environmental and social justice at its heart, and which provides jobs making products in a sustainable way, where workers have secure employment and good terms and conditions.

"Trade Unions are fundamental to delivering that vision and will assist the process of transitioning traditional industrial sectors in a fair and just way. Workers, if losing their job in these sectors, should be able to redeploy to new sectors and the opportunities for retraining must be provided."

Join the Morning Star Fringe meeting on Sun 15th Nov at 3pm - overcoming the economic crisis

Please join us at the Morning Star Fringe Meeting at the STUC virtual Congress, "Covid and the economic crisis: Neoliberal policies caused it. How can we overcome it?" on Sunday 15th November 2020 at 3pm. 

Speakers include ATUC member Kate Ramsden of UNISON, alongside Andrew Murray, Unite Chief of Staff, Roz Foyer, STUC General Secretary, and Neil Findlay, MSP. Corolyn Jones, Vice-chair of the People's Press Management Committee will chair the event.

It promises to be an interesting and stimulating debate. Please come along.

Build solidarity for Richie Venton, sacked steward

 
Aberdeen Trades Union Council has already highlighted this appalling situation where shop steward, Richie Venton has been sacked by Ikea for legitimate trade union activities.

We have sent solidarity and support to Richie. Now, if you can, we are asking all delegates, associates, families and friends to join this online public meeting on Monday 26th October at 7pm to build solidarity across the trade union movement.

Please register for this event and take part if you can.