On 12 June, delegates were proud to take ATUC's banner to Edinburgh to support our UNISON Enable colleagues in their fight for decent wages for Enable workers who support some of our most vulnerable citizens.
We marched down the Royal Mile with UNISON members and supporters to Holyrood to demand the Scottish Government ensures Enable can afford to pay their skilled staff properly for their essential work.
Kate Ramsden, Joint Secretary said: "This dispute highlights the complete disconnect between the Scottish Government’s rhetoric and the situation in care on the ground.
"Without addressing the huge funding gap that allows staff and services to be undervalued and means massive cuts in council services, the quality of care will continue to deteriorate.
"The NCS bill was a joke but instead of going back and assessing the fundamental problems needing resolved the SG buries its head in the sand. They need to start valuing the workers, listening to them, properly funding care services in the council and voluntary sector and ending outsourcing."
A lively but powerful protest was visited by a number of Labour MSPs and was addressed by inspiring speakers from amongst the ranks of care workers. Ros Foyer, STUC and Lilian Macer, UNISON Scottish Secretary also addressed the demonstrators.
Save St Fittick's Park On 2nd July ATUC stood foursquare in support of the friends of St Fittick's Park as they continued their fight against Aberdeen Council's plan to lease part of it for 150 years to an energy company.
Protesters demonstrated outside the Town House as the council, shamefully, took the decision to lease behind closed doors. SNP and Tory councillors voted to form a joint company with ETZ Ltd (set up by Ian Wood) to redevelop much of the park.
Campaigners accused the council of showing contempt for the people of Torry, whose health is already impacted by an incinerator and waste treatment plant. The campaign is backed by the STUC as well as by ATUC, who took a motion to STUC Congress in April. Moving that motion, Steve Gray said that the campaign is "a story of greed, powerand corruption set against community solidarity, love and hope."
ATUC continues to stand in solidarity with the people of Torry and their continuing fight to save their green space intact.