The event took place on Saturday 24th July. The Greenpeace ship, Rainbow Warrior had docked in Aberdeen as part of its journey to engage workers and citizens in discussion around a just transition, in advance of the COP26 Climate Conference coming to Scotland.
Steve spoke of the impact of climate change on the communities in the
North East of Scotland and the role of trade unions in supporting just
transition and climate justice. He called for urgent action to tackle
the climate crisis.
The ATUC stands in suport of the Housing Officers and Housing Support Officers who have been forced to take strike action in order to protect services to tenants. The four day strike is this week until Friday, with the the picket line outside of Marischal College from about 9am til lpm.
Aberdeen Trades Union Council wrote to Angela Scott, Chief Executive of Aberdeen City Council to express our concerns and support for the workers in dispute.
Angela Scott
Chief Executive
Aberdeen City Council
Dear Angela,
Ref: Unite Members on strike
Aberdeen Trades Union Council (ATUC) has received a report and update on the current dispute between Unite and Aberdeen City Council at our last monthly meeting.
ATUC fully supports the stand taken by the striking housing officers and housing support officers in order to protect the service to the tenants.
This is a very commendable and honourable stance for Unite members to take and its disappointing that the Council does not appear to want to resolve the dispute.
It appears to the ATUC that this is yet another cost savings only exercise by the City Council which does not appear to take on the concerns of the front line staff especially of the severe impact the Council's proposals would have on the council's tenants.
ATUC have always opposed Council cuts as the impact is always felt by the citizens who reply on the Council's services and in the case of this dispute the staff who would have to deal with the stress of detrimental changes to their roles in providing the much needed services to the tenants.
Can you advise if an equality impact assessment and associated H&S stress impact assessment has been carried out on the potential impact the proposed changes may have on both the staff and the council's tenants and if so have these assessments been shared with and discussed with the staff and the council's tenants as well.
We do hope that the dispute can be resolved soon.
We look forward to your reply
Yours sincerely
Graeme Farquhar
President, ATUC
On the 33rd anniversary of the Piper Alpha fatal accident, Aberdeen Trades Union Council joined the memorial service to commemorate and remember the 167
workers who were tragically killed on 6th July 1988.
Graeme Farquhar, ATUC President said: "Our thoughts
are with the families, work colleagues and friends of all those who lost their lives in that tragedy."
Graeme added, "Whilst we remember all those who were killed we shall never forget that this offshore accident was caused by inadequate maintenance and safety procedures by the operator Occidental.
“The oil and gas industry is driven by cost reductions, with cutting corners and jobs being lost to save money to increase the profits of the offshore oil and gas employers.
"What is disgraceful is that we know that the Piper Alpha fatal accident could have been avoided as it was caused by cost-driven decisions.
"When costs to the employers become more important than workers safety then the Piper Alpha fatal accident shows that the result is deadly and catastrophic for the workers."
Aberdeen Trades Union Council supports all the offshore based Trade Unions who continue the fight to make sure the offshore oil and gas industry has a safe working environment to ensure all offshore workers can return home to their families and friends.
They joined representatives from Aberdeen City Council and other local organisations in remembering those who have lost their lives or been made ill by mesothelioma, lung cancer and all other asbestos and work-related disease and injury.
Action on Asbestos was formerly Clydeside Action on Asbestos and is Scotland's leading asbestos – industrial injury and disease charity. They provide emotional and practical support to those affected by mesothelioma, lung cancer and all other asbestos and work-related disease and injury.
For more information on the charity and their work see their website at www.actiononasbestos.org.uk
Please come along to the Morning Star Our Class Our Culture event on Tuesday 1st June at 7pm to look at how the trade union movement defeated anti-trade union laws and an anti-working class government 50 years ago and the lessons we can learn for the present day.
The zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87526499610
The event will be chaired by UNISON national executive member and ATUC member Kate Ramsden, and speakers are:
Davie Cooper - on the UCS action, how unity was won and maintained, how broader support was won across Britain
George Kerr - on how broader unity was secured in workplaces across the Clyde and further afield and the role of the shop stewards movement and liaison committee
Brenda Carson - on current challenges, the fight back by women trade unions and how memories of the past can inspire the present
Jackson Cullinane - on lessons for the present
There has never been a more important time to be in a trade union and for collective action. Many of the challenges that face us have parallels from 50 years ago and hearing about those successes can only inspite us for the fights ahead.
Please join us.
Despite the "ceasefire", Aberdeen Trades Union Council continues to call urgently for solidarity with
Palestine. We
therefore call on all our delegates, associates, their friends and families in Aberdeen and North East Scotland to
come out once again, as they did last week, and stand with Palestine.
Please gather outside the Alhikmah Mosque (on Nelson Street) at 4pm where we will march peacefully together to Marischal Square (outside Marischal College), for a rally at approximately 4.30pm. Please bring signs, flags and banners, observe social distancing and wear a mask.
This will be part of a weekend of events in solidarity with the people of Palestine.
On Saturday May 22nd, from 12noon, SPSC will hold a solidarity stall near Union Square and Aberdeen train station. All are welcome to join and support our engagement with the public.
The Alhikmah Mosque will hold an all day event and exhibition on Sunday May 23rd, with speakers from 2pm - further details on the poster below.
The actions of the Israeli state demonstrate that the ‘Nakba’ (Catastrophe) of 1948, when 700 000 Palestinians were driven from their homes and became refugees, is still happening today.
The military provocations and violence taking place in Al Aqsa and now Gaza are not isolated events, but are instead just the latest examples of the oppression and aggression faced daily by the Palestinian population living either under a brutal military occupation in Gaza and West
Bank, or as second-class citizens within Israel.
The First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon MSP, the Leader of the Scottish Labour Party
Anas Sarwar MSP, and the Scottish Green Party have all strongly condemned Israel’s violence
and aggression and gross breaches of international law, and ATUC calls on elected officials
across Scotland to do the same.
The lack of action by the UK government in holding Israel to account in any meaningful way is
unacceptable and we call for an immediate halt to UK arms sales to Israel as a first step.
ATUC stands in solidarity with our Palestinian comrades, and we recognise and fully support the
role of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign in compelling Israel to adhere to
international law.