ATUC Affiliations, News Articles & Adverts for 2021!

 ▶ ATUC Trade Union Affiliations

PLEASE USE THE FORM FOR BOTH RENEWALS AND NEW AFFILIATIONS

Well that wasn’t the year we expected but with your support, the ATUC continued its work throughout 2020, and we very much hope your trade union will support us by affiliating for 2021.

We can only exist because trade union branches support us, and whether your branch has been a long time affiliate, or you wish to join us for the first time this year, we’d be very happy for your support.

Affiliating/Renewing is simple and easy to do online – just click the link and complete the form. We will then send an invoice to the branch contact you nominate. http://bit.ly/ATUCAffiliate

If your branch already affiliates, but you know of other branches or unions who don’t then please send this email on to them – spread the word!

▶ Book your Annual Report Adverts!

It's that time of year again, and the ATUC are looking for organisations to help sponsor our 2020 annual report, to be published in the new year, by taking out adverts to be included in the publication. You can view last year’s report as well.

Organisations taking adverts in this way allow us to produce the well-respected Annual Report each year which is distributed to trade union and other organisations, as well as being made available at the annual STUC conference. It's a great way to get your branch or organisation noticed, as well as helping us to cover the costs of producing the report.

Annual Report advert costs are as follows (please note we are now basing advert costs on page size, as all are now available in colour due to the new printing process we use):
Full-page - £200.00
Half-page - £100.00
Quarter-page - £50.00

To make it even easier you can now submit your annual report advert request online, including uploading your copy ready artwork/poster. We'll then invoice you for the selected amount. If you don’t have your artwork ready yet, you can still book and then send the artwork in later.

To book your advert please ensure you complete our online form as that allows us to track invoices appropriately!

To book your advert in the annual report just complete our online form.

▶ Send us your Annual Report Articles!

As we begin 2021 and hopefully towards an end to Covid, as vaccines become available, this year's annual report will stand as a historical reminder of a unique and very difficult year in the lives of most of our members. We would like to encourage all our affiliates and associate organisations to provide a report on your work over this year, and the impact of the Covid pandemic on your members and your communities. We usually ask for an A4 page of type in Arial 12pt but we would be happy with just a couple of paragraphs on your branch's/organisations' experience to ensure we can include as many affiliates as possible in this Annual Report.

Articles can be submitted to atucreports@gmail.com and we would be grateful to receive them as soon as possible, and no later than 31st January 2021.

How international solidarity and boycott can overcome oppression - come along to the Morning Star Our Class our Culture event and hear more

Please join us at the Morning Star “Our class, our culture” event on 12 January at 7pm, on how international solidarity and boycott can overcome oppression. 

The event will involve a number of ATUC stalwarts including ex-President, Sasha Bryden in the chair, and speaker, Tommy Campbell, Unite and Kate Ramsden, UNISON. 

The North East of Scotland has a proud history of international solidarity. Men and women from the North East went to fight fascism in the Spanish Civil War. And Aberdeen was amongst the first UK cities to award the freedom of the city to Nelson Mandela whilst he was still imprisoned on Robben Island.

Come and hear more about the history of solidarity and boycott and about the vital importance of the peaceful boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign in the struggle for freedom, justice and equality for the people of Palestine.

ATUC backs "People before profit" movement to demand that workers don't pay for Covid crisis

ATUC has voted overwhelmingly to support the aims and demands of "People before profit", a movement that has grown up in response to the Covid pandemic calling for an emergency programme for jobs, services and safety.

It notes that tens of thousands have unnecessarily died from the Covid pandemic thanks to a government that was ill prepared and put profit ahead of people’s safety. 

Now, alongside a Covid pandemic that is far from over, we face an avalanche of job losses, more austerity and more attacks on pay and conditions. "People before profit" is calling for a fightback across workplaces and communities to demand that ordinary people won’t pay for the crisis. 

"People before profit" has made the following demands of the UK government:

• extend the furlough scheme - defend jobs
  
•  guarantee safe workplaces
• tax the wealthy - don't make the workers pay for the crisis
• public ownership of services and end outsourcing
• an immediate massive programme of green investment
• a welfare system that provides real social security and dignity

The campaign has the support of many unions, activists and politicians including John McDonnell, Neil Findlay and Robin McAlpine.

An ATUC working group, led by ATUC delegate, Gerry McCabe, will look at how best ATUC and it's affiliates and associated organisations can take forward the demands of "People before profit" in the North East of Scotland.

Festive greetings to all and best wishes for a peaceful and happy 2021

Aberdeen Trade Union Council wishes all our delegates, affiliates, associates and friends our best wishes for a wonderful festive season and a happy and peaceful 2021.

We particularly send greetings to those providing essential services over the holiday period.

After a very difficult year where workers have had to rise to the challenge of Covid-19 and unions have stood behind them, fighting for their rights, their health and their safety, and their jobs and livelihoods, we can only hope that 2021 sees an end to the pandemic. We will then face a struggle against further austerity and attempts to make ordinary people pay for the pandemic whilst the richest continue to amass wealth. 

ATUC and its affiliated unions and associations will continue to stand up for workers rights and human rights at home and across Scotland, the UK and the world.

Thanks to you all for your continued support. 

Happy Christmas!

ATUC supports Plant a Tree for Palestine initiative

 At its December delegates meeting, ATUC gave its overwhelming support to the Plant a Tree for Palestine initiative, launched by the Aberdeen branch of Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC).

This new campaign which aims to build local solidarity with and support communities in South West Bethlehem targeted by illegal settlement expansion.SPSC member and ATUC delegate, Fiona Napier presented the campaign and ATUC agreed to donate £500 towards tree planting in Palestine.

More information can be found at the Plant a Tree page of the SPSC Aberdeen website, where you can also donate.

ATUC has a proud tradition of supporting the Palestinian cause and calling for an end to the oppression of the people of Palestine and occupation of their lands.

Fiona told the committee, “Initially this project will focus on tree planting as political resistance via the ‘Plant-a-Tree in Palestine’ initiative, raising money for trees that can then be planted by farmers and communities, contributing to sustainable economic development as well as symbolic resistance against Israeli occupation.”

If enough money can be raised by February 2021, it’s hoped the first planting can take place by March (before the planting season ends). £8 will allow one olive tree or grape vine plant to be purchased and the ground properly prepared.  You can donate here.

ATUC calls for support to keep Old Aberdeen Medical Practice under health-board control

Aberdeen Trade Union Council is deeply concerned at the proposal made by NHS Grampian and the City Health and Social Care Partnership's (ACHSCP) to put the management of Old Aberdeen Medical Practice and five other medical practices in Aberdeen out to tender to be taken over as a for-profit GP-led practice.

This means that they would be run for profit instead of being run by the health board.  All nine of the Old Aberdeen Medical Centre's G.P.s have now resigned and the practice is on the verge of collapse.

We are calling on ATUC delegates, associates, families and friends to go on and like and share the Facebook page 'Save Old Aberdeen Medical Practice' that would be appreciated https://www.facebook.com/saveOAMP.

Please also sign and share the petition on 38 degrees to Keep old Aberdeen Medical Centre. 

If your practice is Old Aberdeen you can contact the local MSP Kevin Stewart and appeal for him to intervene before Thursday when the IJB takes the decision to the next stage via 01224 624719 and Kevin.Stewart.msp@parliament.scot.  

ATUC commends Aberdeen City for flying the Palestinian flag on the UN international day of solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Today is UN international day of solidarity with the people of Palestine. 

Aberdeen Trades Union Council sends greetings to the people of Palestine and pledges our continued support for an end to the oppression and occupation of the people of Palestine by the Israeli government.

We commend Aberdeen City Council and the Lord Provost for flying the Palestinian flag today to commemorate the international day of solidarity with the people of Palestine.

This continues Aberdeen City's excellent record of international solidarity, including awarding the freedom of the city to Nelson Mandela when he was still a prisoner on Robben Island. 

As Mandela said, “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

ATUC Acting President, Graeme Farquhar said "We fully support the decision of Aberdeen City Council's Lord Provost  to yet again fly the Palestinian flag as part of the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the people of Palestine.

 

"The Aberdeen TUC in line with STUC policy continues in its efforts to secure peace and justice for Palestine in line with United Nations Resolutions aimed at bringing an end to Israel's illegal occupied territories of Palestine."

The struggle continues.