Despite ATUC opposition delegates vote for biennial Congress

Fred Bayer

ATUC’s Fred Bayer joined the wide ranging constitutional debate, as Congress, on a card vote, supported the General Council’s constitutional amendment with over two-thirds of the vote. This reversed last year’s decision and means that from now on Congress and Equalities Conferences will be every two years albeit with some strengthening of rights.

This is predicated on saving expense and staff time with a plan to redirect both to implementing Congress decisions and a more incisive campaigning focus.

The concerns about a democratic deficit were rejected by a majority of unions.

Opposing the amendments, Fred pointed out that the changes proposed were philosophically incoherent.

“As a trade union we oppose cuts. We should resource the STUC properly to keep delivering Annual Conference and the other campaigning events that have been described.”

X's coat on a shoogly peg

Fred Bayer

Fred was also in action in the debate about affiliates use of X, formally Twitter.

It was once again condemned by STUC Congress as a platform for misinformation, misogyny and extreme content. However, the movers, SSTA, agreed to remit the motion to enable the General Council to consider further the practicalities.

Seconding the motion, ATUC’s Fred Bayer said, “We do not use X, X uses us. Our data, our time, our content. It’s time we stop spending our time and energy creating profit for a fascist.”

ATUC Annual Report 2015

Aberdeen Trades Union Council is pleased to announce the publication of our Annual Report for 2015, which is now available for download from this website.

The report was distributed at the STUC Conference at the beginning of this week and further hard copies will be available for delegates at the next ATUC meeting in May.

It's a huge amount of work to put together the annual report so a big thank you to everyone involved, including all the trade unions and other organisations who help to support the work of the ATUC throughout the year, and who support the production of the annual report by providing articles and adverts.

• Download ATUC Annual Report 2015
• Download ATUC Centre Photo Spread

AGM celebrates recovery and looks forward with confidence

Tributes were paid to outgoing Secretary, Brian Carroll and to Treasurer, Mark Chapman, as delegates attending the ATUC AGM heard that the finances are healthy once more, and more local trade unions have affiliated.


Brian Carroll

Long standing member, Jimmy Neave, called for a vote of thanks to both Brian and Mark for all their work in spearheading the ATUC recovery to the point
where we can look forward with confidence to the years ahead.

Speaking to his Annual Report, Brian told of a busy year for the ATUC with the highlight being the first May Day March in many years which marched down the entire length of Union Street.

Aberdeen Trade Union Council AGM Wed 5th March 2014

All ATUC delegates are invited to attend the 2014 AGM which will be held in the ATUC premises, John Londragon House, 22a Adelphi, Aberdeen, beginning at 7.30pm.

Interim Secretary, Brian Carroll said, "This is a very important AGM which will elect ATUC Officers for the coming year and will also consider whether to adopt the updated constitution and standing orders.

"All delegates from affiliated trade unions are welcome to come along and have their say, and we are hoping for a good turn out, some interesting debate and decisions which will lay the foundations for the year ahead."

ATUC Constitution revised for presentation to AGM

Aberdeen Trade Union Council delegates, who attended the workshop on Saturday 1st February have reviewed the ATUC constitution and have produced an updated Constitution and Standing Orders based on the STUC model.

Thanks to Ron Webster, also in attendance, for the photo

These will now be presented to the ATUC AGM on 5th March where they will need to be approved by a two thirds majority.

Brian Carroll, Interim Secretary said, "The delegates who attended all worked very hard to review and update the Constitution and to make it fit for purpose. We were particularly keen to tighten up the financial governance of the ATUC and we believe that our proposed Constitution does just that.

"It will now be up to delegates to consider the new Constitution and Standing Orders and to decide whether they will approve them at the AGM."

Kate Ramsden, Minute Secretary added, "We would like to thank all those delegates who gave up their Saturday to take part in the Workshop, with special thanks to our Treasurer, Mark Chapman, who pulled together the final version of our proposed Constitution and Standing Orders."

ATUC to review constitution and rules for financial governance - Reminder

Delegates to the Aberdeen Trades Union Council are reminded about the workshop to be held on Saturday 1st Feb in the UNITE Offices, King Street, Aberdeen to review the constitution and the financial governance of the ATUC.

Brian Carroll, Interim Secretary said, "It has been our intention for some time to look at the constitutional and the financial governance arrangements, to see what needs tightened up and clarified, and we are hoping that as many of our delegates as possible will come along and take part in this review.

"The amended constitution will then be put before the Annual General Meeting of the ATUC on 5th March, where it will require approval by a two thirds majority."

The workshop will last from 11am until 4pm and lunch will be provided. Any delegates interested in coming along should contact Brian Carroll at BCarroll@scotcourts.gov.uk

ATUC to review constitution and rules for financial governance

Delegates to the Aberdeen Trades Union Council will meet on Saturday 1st Feb in the UNITE Offices, King Street, Aberdeen to review the constitution and the financial governance of the ATUC.

Brian Carroll, Interim Secretary said, "It has been our intention for some time to look at the constitutional and the financial governance arrangements, to see what needs tightened up and clarified, and we are hoping that as many of our delegates as possible will come along and take part in this review.

"The amended constitution will then be put before the Annual General Meeting of the ATUC on 5th March, where it will require approval by a two thirds majority."

The workshop will last from 11am until 4pm and lunch will be provided. Any delegates interested in coming along should contact Brian Carroll at BCarroll@scotcourts.gov.uk