ATUC represented at momentous events remembering history of struggle

 Aberdeen Trades Union Council has been represented at a number of Scottish and UK events over recent weeks by President Tommy Campbell and Joint Secretary, Kate Ramsden.

Over the weekend of 3^rd and 4^th October  Tommy attended the celebration of the defeat of Mosley’s Fascist Blackshirts in the East End of London known as the Battle of Cable Street.

Tommy said, "The defeat was possible because of the organising undertaken by trade unionists, political and community  activists that created a unity of purpose to primarily to defend and  protect the Jewish community from the antisemitic hate espoused by the fascist Blackshirts.   

"That unity was essential because anti-fascists and people of good conscience  fully understood that an attack on the Jewish community was an attack on all other  working-class communities in the East End of London and across the UK."

Then on 9 October, Kate and Tommy attended the unveiling of the Nelson Mandela Statue in Glasgow's Nelson Mandela Place. 

Tommy, Kate and Comrade Stevie 
Dillon at Mandela statue, Glasgow

The date marks 33 years since Madiba visited Glasgow to receive (in torrential rain) the Freedom of the 9 Cities, conferred on him while still a prisoner on Robben Island. 

Kate said, "We are proud that Aberdeen was one of those cities. The heavens opened as the statue was unveiled, in memory of that day! 

"But the struggle against apartheid and racism continues in Palestine, in Scotland and across the world. This statue reminds us of the need to learn from our history and never forget the importance of standing up for the human rights of all. As Tommy says: “We are all Jock Tamson’s barns!”"

Finally Tommy and Kate took the replica of the Spanish Civil war flag, used to wrap the bodies of fallen comrades and bring them home to Aberdeen, to the remembrance service in Glasgow on Saturday 10 October organised by the International Brigade Memorial Trust. 

The flag was commissioned from art students at RGU and is an exact (but smaller) replica of the original flag which hangs behind glass in the ATUC Office at 22a Adelphi.

Speakers included Mike Arnott who gave the history of the Scots who fought and died in Spain, and Alison Campbell-Glass whose great grandfather was an international brigader. She drew parallels with the rise of fascism we are seeing again across Scotland, the UK, Europe and the US and warned us that we are again engaged in a struggle against the divisive politics of the far right and must bring the same passion and commitment to oppose it as was shown by those who fought against fascism in Spain.

The ceremony was held at La Pasionaria, the statue of Isidora Dolores Ibárruri, a leader in fight against fascism in the Spanish Civil War. It stands as a memorial to all those in Glasgow and the surrounding area who lost their lives fighting for freedom in the Spanish Civil War.