Celebrating the collective power of women

Women and men celebrated International Women's Day in Aberdeen with poetry and song by and about women, their achievements and their activism. 

Organised by Aberdeen Trades Union Council and the North East Morning Star Readers and Supporters Group, the event, held on Sunday 8 March, also showcased the Morning Star's poetry anthology, "Who We Are". 

Chaired by Kate Ramsden, ATUC joint-secretary, women brought along their own inspiring poetry to read, or read compelling poems by other women from across the world, including many from the Morning Star anthology. 

Kate said; "It was a very uplifting event with poems that made us laugh and cry and which spoke powerfully of women's lives and experiences, their oppression and their resilience. What better way to celebrate International Women's Day?

"We also heard from the men but on the proviso that all the poems were penned by women. They were and they read them movingly and with reference to the important and influential women in their lives"

Music was provided by musicians from Aberdeen based band, Melting Pot who performed songs about women's lives before accompanying all those present in a rousing rendition of Bread and Roses.

Proceeds from the nine poetry books sold will go to the Morning Star Fighting fund. Thanks to Melting Pot and to all the sisters and brothers that came along. 

Celebrating the collective power of women with poetry and song on International Women's Day

Poster by Morag Lawrence

 Join us to celebrate International Women's Day in Aberdeen on 8 March 11.30-1pm, with poetry and music by and for women. 

The event, which will be held in the ATUC, 22A Adelphi, Aberdeen, has been organised by Aberdeen Trades Union Council in association with the Aberdeen Morning Star Readers and Supporters Group. 

It is open to both men and women and will hear poetry from women and men celebrating the role of women in communities and political activism. It will also showcase the new Morning Star poetry anthology, Who We Are.

Music will also feature at what promises to be an uplifting event celebrating women's voices and women's power.

Please do come along and join us.

What is International Women's Day (IWD)?
IWD is celebrated annually on March 8.  It is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for advancing gender equality.

IWD has been around for well over a century, with the first IWD marked in 1911.

In 2026, IWD marks an extraordinary milestone: 115 years of collective action, advocacy, and progress toward sex equality. For more than a century, IWD has helped drive transformative change. Each generation has built on the courage of those before it, pushing boundaries and redefining what is possible.

Looking forward to welcoming you to this event. Please come and celebrate the collective power of women in creating change.

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." 

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.

Come along and celebrate international women's day with us

Aberdeen Trades Union Council is adding to the many fabulous International Women's Day activities happening in Aberdeen and the North East with a few of our own!

Join us on Saturday 7th March for an afternoon of activities;

• 13:00-14:00 Stall in St Nicholas Square with info, music, goodies, and selfie-cards pledges
• 14:00-15:00 Speakers in St Nicholas Square - speakers on a range of topics
• 15:00-17:00 Back to ATUC premises for food, chat, additional speakers,  
• and….if any of you have already seen the amazing 'Sewing Resistance' Chilean craftivism exhibition currently on at University of Aberdeen, we are delighted to say that the university is generously loaning us some arpilleras which we will have on display at ATUC on the day! (many thanks to Patience Schell, Chair of Hispanic Studies and her students!) More info here...https://www.abdn.ac.uk/events/15095/

Fiona Napier, ATUC Secretary said, "In the 50th anniversary year of the Equal Pay Act it has never been more important to celebrate women's achievements and to keep up the pressure for equality. Women's pay still lags 12% behind men's pay and we are still under-represented in politics and management.

"Yet throughout the years women have been responsible for many key initiatives and have been to the fore in many successful campaigns. Yet many challenges still face us in  becoming truly equal.

"Whatever your gender please join us to celebrate women's achievements and to support the campaign for real and lasting gender equality."

Click here for more information.

Come along to our International Women's Day Event and #BalanceforBetter

#BalanceforBetter Please join Aberdeen Trades Union Council as we celebrate International Women's Day.

Come along at 6pm to a short rally in St Nicholas Square with some inspirational speakers and music, then walk a short distance to the ATUC offices for a social event - a short film, some light refreshments and an open mic opportunity for folk to contribute any thoughts/ comments they have.

The IWD theme this year is #BalanceforBetter. Download and print your selfie card here -
- and start posting pictures of your pledges in our Facebook event page. And get your workplace, school, club, union posting too!

Hope you can join us for what should be a great evening!

Aberdeen Trades Union Council launches its 150th Anniversary year in style

Kevin Hutchens, Kathleen Kennedy, Satnam Ner,
Barney Crockett, Tyrinne Rutherford and
Grahame Smith

Aberdeen Trades Union Council's 150th Anniversary celebrations got off to a high profile start this week with three excellent events formally launching our anniversary year and recognising the work of the ATUC locally.

Our thanks go to the STUC and Aberdeen City Council for hosting receptions to mark this important year.

STUC reception and launch of research proposal
The events began with a reception on Wednesday afternoon, 7th March hosted by the STUC in the Town House, Aberdeen to mark our150th anniversary. We were delighted that the General Council held their meeting in Aberdeen before this event.

ATUC 150th Anniversary Year Diary - See what we did in our 150th year

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT OUR 150th ANNIVERSARY YEAR DIARY

• January 24 - Film "Belonging" at Belmont Cinema
• January 28 - Sunday - Holocaust Memorial Day, Castlegate
• March 3 - Protest Conservative Conference, AECC 0800 hours - 1730 hours
• March 7 - STUC Event - Aberdeen City Council's Civic Reception to launch our 150th anniversary celebrations
• March 8 - International Women's Day rally at the Castlegate at 1830
• March 22 - Public talk on Palestinian Child Prisoners 
• April 16-18 - STUC Congress in Aviemore
• April 17 - Lewis Macdonald leads a debate in Holyrood on the ATUC 150th anniversary
• April 28 - International Workers Memorial Day (memorial held at Persley Gardens) 
• May 5 - Mayday March and Rally
• May 9 -  An introduction to economics for trade union and community activists
• May 19 - Spring Clean of ATUC Offices and Cataloguing of Books and Artefacts
• May 26 - Grampian Pride 
• June 2 - ATUC stall and the Feein Market, Stonehaven
• June 14 - Vigil to remember Grenfell one year on
• July 10 - Rearranged Trade Union History talk by Jurgen Thomanek 
• July 14 - Trump's a Chump Protest 
• July 25 - A just transition for Aberdeen event
• 8th September - Doors Open Day at 22a Adelphi
• 28th September - Evening of celebration for the XV International Brigade Aberdeen
• November 9 - Aberdeenshire Council's Civic Reception
• November 24 - St Andrews Day March
• December 3 - Commemoration of John Maclean's release from Peterhead Jail
• December 13 - A history of political protest in Aberdeen - a talk by Andrew McGregor

Thanks to everyone who has worked to make our 150th anniversary such a special year and to all those who joined us to celebrate it.

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!

Celebrate International Women's Day on Wed 8th March 2017

Aberdeen Trade Union Council invites you to rally at the Castlegate on Wednesday 8th March at 6:30 - 8pm to celebrate International Womens Day and show solidarity with women across the world. 

Kathleen Kennedy, ATUC Vice President said, "This is an impromptu event to stand in solidarity with women across Scotland, the UK and the World."

Click here to see the Facebook page

"Despite years of struggle women are still under-represented in many walks of life, we still earn less than our male counterparts and we are still most likely to suffer domestic abuse and other forms of male violence.

"We are appalled by Trump's attitude towards women as towards other minority groups and we need to stand together and shoe that this is unacceptable.

"Please come along and stand with us on Wednesday. Bring banners and placards." 

The theme of International Women's Day this year is  #BeBoldForChange. Organisers are calling on the masses and calling on individuals to help forge a better working world - a more gender inclusive world.




"Let's do our bit," urged Kathleen.

Come along and celebrate International Women's Day on Tuesday 8th March 2016 the The Citadel, Aberdeen

All are invited to this year's International Women’s Day event will be held on TUESDAY 8TH MARCH 2016 in The Citadel,  28 Castle Street Aberdeen City, AB11 5BG from 12 noon – 2 pm. Refreshments will be provided. 

Come along and hear from YWCA Scotland – The Young Women’s Movement about the findings of their research into the status of young women in Scotland. 

Enjoy and join the world café discussion around:
· Education
· Employment
· Political participation
· Media and Stereotyping
· Justice
· Women at home
 
Share your ideas about what we can do to strengthen gender equality.
 
To book please phone 01224 595505 or register here

International Women's Day in Aberdeen - Making it Happen

Aberdeen  will celebrate  International Women's Day with two events this year.

The first is organised by Unite and will be a lunchtime event on Friday 6th March in the Unite Offices, 44-46 King Street, Aberdeen AB34 5JT.

The main speakers will be Donna Clark, an Aberdeen based Unite Activist, Aberdeen City Councillor Yvonne Allan, Agnes Tolmie , Unite  Executive Council Member and Chair of the Scottish Womens Convention  and  Elaine Dougall, Unite’s Regional  Women and Equalities Officer.

 

There will be light refreshments available from 12.30 until 13.00. 
 

All ATUC delegates are welcome, but as a buffet lunch will be provided, please contact the UNITE office on 01224 645271 or email: Susan.martin@unitetheunion.org to confirm your attendance by Wednesday 4^th March 2015.

 

On Sunday 8th March, Aberdeen City Council will bring together a significant number and a wide range of Aberdeen’s women  for an informal and relaxed afternoon of refreshments, entertainment & celebration.

The event will begin at 2.00pm in Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom with registration, conversation and a refreshing drink. There will be a small number of display stalls to view at this time.