Time to get our house in order

Kathleen Kennedy

#STUC24 Congress unanimously supported a call from Aberdeen Trades Union Council for trade unions and trade union councils to practice what they preach on equalities.

The general council will work with equalities groups urging them to report annually on equality statistics and aims and targets to improve them if needed.

Moving the motion, Kathleen Kennedy told delegates that saying we are doing equalities isn’t good enough.

“Let’s get real and prove we are doing it,” she urged.

She said that checking back on ATUC’s 150 years it’s clear that there have been only two women presidents and only two disabled presidents.

“We need to get our own house in order,” challenged Kathleen, calling for annual reporting of unions’ and TU councils’ equality stats and targets for improvement.

Speakers from other unions supported our motion making it clear that there is still a way to go across the TU movement on gender equality and other equalities.

Join the STUC Equality Hustings 2021 Tuesday, 6 April at 6pm

What are Scotland’s Political Parties commitments to Equality and Workers in Scotland?

Ahead of the 2021 Holyrood Election, join the STUC Equality Committees as they quiz representatives from all of Scotland’s political parties on a range of Equality related issues; and political parties outline their plans and promises to tackling inequality and injustice and building a fairer and more inclusive society and world of work.

The event will take place on Tuesday 6th April at 6pm.

Register for the event here where you can submit any questions you have about equality issues for the political parties to answer.

ATUC supports International Women’s Day 2021 – “Choose to Challenge”

 
Aberdeen TUC proudly supports the struggle for peace, justice and equality by and for all women on International Women's Day and sends solidarity to all women in struggle.

The trades council is backing the local International Women’s Day events jointly arranged by Aberdeen Women’s Alliance, Aberdeen City Council and Grampian Regional Equality Council (GREC).

ATUC is one of the co-hosts of an online event organised by Aberdeen Women's Alliance and GREC on Period Poverty, Technology and Activism on International Women's Day, 8th March from 11-12 noon. Please join us.  Click here to find out more on Facebook.

Click here to find out about the other events being held locally to celebrate International Women's Day.

Donna Clark, ATUC vice president said, “Trade Unions proudly celebrate the achievements of women on International Women's Day, especially as it grew out of the campaign for better pay and improved conditions at work, in addition to the campaign for all women to have the right to vote.

“These campaigns, led by women active in the Trade Union and Labour Movement were instrumental in having International Women's Day recognised as an annual event by the United Nations." 

ATUC calls for support to keep Old Aberdeen Medical Practice under health-board control

Aberdeen Trade Union Council is deeply concerned at the proposal made by NHS Grampian and the City Health and Social Care Partnership's (ACHSCP) to put the management of Old Aberdeen Medical Practice and five other medical practices in Aberdeen out to tender to be taken over as a for-profit GP-led practice.

This means that they would be run for profit instead of being run by the health board.  All nine of the Old Aberdeen Medical Centre's G.P.s have now resigned and the practice is on the verge of collapse.

We are calling on ATUC delegates, associates, families and friends to go on and like and share the Facebook page 'Save Old Aberdeen Medical Practice' that would be appreciated https://www.facebook.com/saveOAMP.

Please also sign and share the petition on 38 degrees to Keep old Aberdeen Medical Centre. 

If your practice is Old Aberdeen you can contact the local MSP Kevin Stewart and appeal for him to intervene before Thursday when the IJB takes the decision to the next stage via 01224 624719 and Kevin.Stewart.msp@parliament.scot.  

ATUC - leading in disabilities since the 1800s - celebrates Disability History Month

Aberdeen Trades Union Council is celebrating Disability History Month which takes place between the 18th November to the 20 December every year.

With a theme this year of Access: How far have we come? How far have we to go? it is timely to note that Aberdeen Trades Union Council's (ATUC) involvement with and support of disabled workers isn't new.

ATUC has a long history of campaigning for equalities and has been disability friendly from as far back as 1886, when two blind delegates attended Trades Union Council meetings for the first time. The two delegates were Mr  Johnston and Mr John Keir.  Keir had lost his sight as a result of an accident he had as a child aged four.

John Keir who was originally from Strathdon, went on to serve as ATUC President from 1895 – 1898 and he was also the Vice President  between 1888 - 1893.  He had an incredible memory for facts and figures and he barely got a delegate’s name wrong if at all.  John Keir was also the STUC President for a year 1898 when the STUC held their second conference which was in Aberdeen. Not only was Keir one of the former ATUC presidents he had also was one of the directors of the Co-operative and elected to the school board in 1894 and became chairman in 1911.

Please join us to celebrate Disability History Month with booklet launch on Disability History

ATUC affiliate, Aberdeenshire UNISON will celebrate Disability History Month and the International Day of People with Disabilities on 3rd December 4-5pm with an online event.

This event  will also see the launch of a booklet, Disability History: Fascinating Facts, penned by branch equalities officer, Kathleen Kennedy.

All our delegates, associates, friends and families are warmly invited to attend.

You can join from your computer, tablet or smartphone. 

Go to the Facebook event for more details and full joining instructions.

The theme, ‘turning disability into ability’ focusses on the achievements of disabled people.  The Fascinating Facts booklet looks at disability over the past 200 years with a particular spotlight on the North East of Scotland. As well as the historical context it also includes features on prominent local disabled people who have achieved great things.

Take One Action 2020 Film Festival

This year's Take One Action film festival runs from 16th-27th September, with tickets on sale on a "pay what you can" basis.

Take One Action nurtures communal exploration of the stories, ideas and questions at the heart of positive social change. Through film screenings, conversation and enquiry, we bring people together to inspire a fairer, more sustainable and more fulfilling world, in Scotland and beyond our borders.

From freedom of the press to prison reform, from labour rights in the garment industry to indigenous rights and climate justice our programme offers a much-needed opportunity to connect with some of our planets most pressing issues - and to (re-)connect with our power to be the change.

See the trailer here, or go direct to their website for more information at https://www.takeoneaction.org.uk/events/

Standing together for women's equality on International Women's Day

Aberdeen Trades Union Council hosted an excellent International Women’s Day event on Saturday 7th March.

Organised by Fiona Napier, Laura McDonald and Morag Lawrence, ATUC Exec members, the event began with a stall in St Nicholas Square. This attracted loads of interest from passers-by many of whom had their photos taken with placards committing to women's equality.

Dressed as suffragettes, the three organisers really looked the part. WASPI women also came along as they continued their campaign for transitional measures to protect women whose state pension age was moved from 60 to anything between 63 and 66.

Four women speakers then spoke about women’s achievements, the challenges ahead and how, standing side by side with each other, we can tackle these for the generations to come.

ATUC urges affiliates to attend Grampian Pride on 25th May

Aberdeen Trades Union Council urges all affiliates and their families to join the second annual Grampian Pride parade on the 25th May 2019 in Aberdeen.

The parade will head down Union Street from Albyn Place at 10:30am and end at the Castlegate, where there will be entertainment.

Most of our Trade Union affiliates locally are actively involved in supporting Grampian Pride, and the struggle for LGBT+ rights both here and around the world.

Sasha Brydon, ATUC President said "Grampian Pride was such an excellent and vibrant event last year, with many community groups and unions taking part, and we hope to see an even greater turnout this year."

Fiona Napier, ATUC Secretary said "The TUC have just released the results of their first major study into LGBT+ sexual harassment at work in the UK, and the findings are shocking, with 68% reporting experiencing harassment in the workplace.

"This just demonstrates why events such as Pride are necessary to challenge such prejudice and stand in solidarity with our LGBT+ community."

For more information go to the Grampian Pride website.

Celebrate International Women's Day with the ATUC on 8th March in the Castlegate, Aberdeen.

Come and celebrate International Women’s Day 2018 in the North East of Scotland at a Rally in the Castlegate, Aberdeen beginning at 6.30pm.

Organised by Aberdeen Trades Union Council (ATUC) the event will be compered again this year by ATUC Vice-President, Kathleen Kennedy. A great line up of speakers include Gemma Clark, speaking on behalf of the ATUC, Christina McGonigle, Gaelic TV presenter, Cllr Alison Evison, President of CoSLA, Cllr Ross Cassie, a speaker from the WASPI campaign, Rev Robert Smith Rubislaw Church and trade union speakers and supporters.

International Women’s Day is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements – from the political to the social – while calling for gender equality.

The International Women’s Day website states: “With the World Economic Forum's 2017 Global Gender Gap Report findings telling us that gender parity is over 200 years away - there has never been a more important time to keep motivated and #PressforProgress. 

“And with global activism for women's equality fuelled by movements like #MeToo, #TimesUp and more - there is a strong global momentum striving for gender parity.

“While we know that gender parity won't happen overnight, the good news is that across the world women are making positive gains day by day. Plus, there's indeed a very strong and growing global movement of advocacy, activism and support.”

So please join us on Thursday 8^th March. Women and the men who support us are all welcome!

ATUC members congratulate Kathleen on her election to the STUC Disabled Workers' Committee and Congress

Aberdeen Trade Union Council vice-president, Kathleen Kennedy has been elected unopposed onto the STUC Disabled Workers' Committee and to represent them at the STUC Annual Congress.


Kevin Hutchens, joint president said, "Kathleen was nominated by the ATUC to these roles and we are delighted with her success.


"Congratulations have flooded in from ATUC members and we know that Kathleen will do a great job representing the ATUC and disabled members in Scotland.


"We send Kathleen our very best wishes in these roles."