ATUC delegates join thousands marching for better in Edinburgh

Aberdeen Trades Union Council joined thousands of trade unionists and community activists on the Scotland Demands Better march and rally in Edinburgh on Saturday 25 October.

A packed bus took activists from Aberdeen to give a clear message to the Scottish and UK Governments that politicians make the changes we need for a society where every household can thrive and prosper.We demanded better jobs, better benefits and better investment for life's essentials.

The march set off from outside the Scottish Parliament, marched up the Royal Mile and through the centre of Edinburgh. It made a colourful display with banners and flags from many trade unions and trade union councils as well as a wide range of anti-poverty and community groups. Many Palestinian flags were also flown on the march, with calls to end the genocide and the occupation and for a free Palestine.

ATUC joins tenant’s union, charities and community groups call for Aberdeen City Council to fill 1,816 empty council homes.

Aberdeen Trades Union Council joined Living Rent Aberdeen as they delivered their open letter, signed by key organisations across Aberdeen, calling on Aberdeen City Council to urgently bring the 1,816 empty council homes back into public use.

The open letter highlights that this year, Aberdeen’s homeless services have been declared as at ‘a heightened risk of systemic failure’ by the Scottish Housing Regulator and the council is ‘routinely breaking the law’ in failing to meet housing needs.

Living Rent Aberdeen say that families with children sit trapped in unsuitable temporary accommodation while the council’s inability to fill lettable empty homes has cost £12.5m in the last 6 years.