Celebrate International Workers Day at our May Day march, rally and social for Cuba

We are urging all delegates, union members, families and friends to join our May Day March and Rally on Saturday 2 May to celebrate International Workers Day.

Note new gathering point. Gather in Alford Place from 11am to march along Union Street to Union Terrace Gardens for a rally with a range of political and community speakers.

The march will be a family friendly event led by the Granite City Pipes and Drums; and branches and community activists are urged to bring along their placards, banners and flags.

100 years on from the General Strike of 1926 we gather to celebrate our achievements but also to learn lessons from the intervening years and to recommit to fight for workers' rights both here and across the world.

The Rally will be followed by a social, free to attend with raffle on the day and taking donations in aid of Cuba Vive (https://cubavive.org.uk/) Organised by ATUC and partners it will be held from 2-4pm in the Scottish Embassy on Trinity St (Opposite the train station) There will be live music from Callum Michael and the event is open  to all. Come and have a bit of fun after the serious politics.

Tommy Campbell, ATUC President said, "International Workers Day or May Day is a chance for the labour movement across the world to celebrate the core values that trade unionists stand for.

"Workers today continue to face threats on all fronts; global conflicts, ongoing structural racism and the rise of the far right, ever growing inequality and the climate crisis.

"On May Day we remember we are part of a global movement and our collective power is our greatest strength. One hundred years on from the 1926 General Strike against pay cuts, there are still the same issues of pay cuts to be opposed, coupled with other huge injustices and inequalities to be eradicated. 

"Too many people stuck on poverty wages, too many women denied equal pay, too many people in our ethnic minority communities whose lives are blighted by discrimination and disadvantage, too many unemployed and millions of workers, especially young workers, suffering the curse of zero hours contracts."

Counter-protest takes message of solidarity and hope to Peterhead to challenge far right

Aberdeen trades union council activists were joined by Disabled People Against the Cuts (DPAC) and other union and community activists to stand against the far right rally in Peterhead on Saturday 9 August.

In a symbolic protest that demonstrated clear opposition to the far right's racism and messages of hate against vulnerable groups, counter protesters gathered to give out leaflets highlighting that migrants are not to blame for austerity and the cost of living crisis. 

Passers-by were mostly welcoming and willing to hear our own message that it is the richest and government policy to blame for cuts to public services, the problems in the NHS and growing poverty in communities. There are now 150 billionaires in the UK who have amassed more and more wealth as the rest of us have got poorer. They are the ones to be targeted - not vulnerable people fleeing war and oppression in the hopes of safety. 

Join us at our May Day March and Rally for Workers Rights and Human Rights

All are welcome to attend the ATUC’s  annual May Day March and Rally on Saturday 3^rd May 2025. Bring your flags, banners and placards.

Gather from 11.00am on Rubislaw Terrace. The march will set off at 11.30am onto Union Street via Union Terrace and Schoolhill to Broad Street .

The Rally will be held outside Marischal College from 12 noon, with music, poetry and speakers from Trade Unions and progressive organisations. This is a family friendly event with food available and activities for children.

Tommy Campbell, ATUC President said, "At a time when we see attacks on workers' rights and human rights here and across the world, we will be coming together as trade unionists and campaigners, to show solidarity with workers and citizens in struggle here and across the world. 

"We are united in our fight for dignity and respect for all workers and the rights of citizens ere and internationally. Our speakers will focus on all these struggles, including no fire and rehire, no social care cuts, a proper just transition, get me home safely campaign, international workers’ rights and peace including Palestinian rights, an end to poverty and pensioner poverty and no to public service cuts, including the crisis in health, and universities.

"Please join us in our fight for social justice and make this a march to remember."

Solidarity with Aberdeen SPSC activists – support for the peaceful boycott , divestment and sanctions campaign (BDS)

Aberdeen Trades Union Council (ATUC) stands in solidarity with the six activists from Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Aberdeen who were arrested and detained following a peaceful protest in Home Bargains on Saturday 15 February.

Following 16 months of genocide in Gaza, which has left more than 62,000 dead including almost 18,000 children, and further Israeli violence in the West Bank, which has killed over 900 Palestinians, protesters took their Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign into Home Bargains in Aberdeen and called on shoppers to boycott Israeli goods, and for Home Bargains to stop stocking them.

ATUC is very concerned about the response by Police Scotland to a peaceful solidarity protest that involved 16 police officers which we understand included at least one armed police officer. We are deeply concerned that this response by Police Scotland caused serious alarm to the public shopping in the area and to the members of the Scottish Palestine solidarity committee exercising their lawful right to peacefully protest in support of the Palestinian people. 

ATUC believes that the right to protest is a fundamental democratic right, enshrined in law, and protected under human rights conventions. Under international law, advocating for and participating in boycott actions against companies complicit in human rights violations is not a crime. 

Save St Fittick's Park Protest 18 Jan at the Town House - please support the campaign

 All Aberdeen Trades Union delegates and affiliates are urged to support our friends in the Save St Fittick's Park campaign. 

Please get along if you can to Aberdeen Town House from 9.30 to 10.30am on Thursday 18 January, to protest the council's decision on St Fittick's Park and demand it is saved for the people of Torry and Aberdeen.

Enough is enough - standing up for the right to strike

Over 100 trade unionists, community activists and members of the public joined the Aberdeen “Protect the Right to Strike” Rally on 1st Feb – part of massive UK wide protests against the latest anti-trade union legislation passed by this government.

Organised by Aberdeen Trades Union Council (ATUC) the event was chaired by Kathleen Kennedy,  vice president of ATUC. Speakers came from a range of unions in struggle, including EIS, PCS and UCU, whose members had been on strike that day.

Jacob Campbell brought greetings from Unite. he had led a successful strike in Shelter which saw a wage rise for his members. 

Speaking on behalf of UNISON, branch co-chair, Kate Ramsden brought solidarity from our union to all workers in struggle, “our own members, south of the border and all our sister unions taking action locally and across Scotland.

“Because a victory for one is a victory for us all,” said Kate. “That’s the beauty of collective action – of standing together in solidarity and comradeship.

Enough is enough

Speech from Dod Ross, CWU for Protect the Right to Strike Rally

Good evening and I bring solidarity from the Communication Workers Union, a Union that has already taken 18 days Industrial Action and is in the process of re-balloting our members due to anti-trade union laws.

This is a campaign that shouldn’t be needed.

This is a campaign that shouldn’t need to exist.

However, we are now part of a working world where suppression of pay, terms & conditions seem to be requirements we all must be expected to adhere and surrender to by business & government alike.

Food poverty, child poverty, in-work poverty in the 5^th richest country in the world is abhorrent.

We are in a real time crisis, not only working people but for all people, families & communities across the country.

We aren’t looking for huge sums of money, we aren’t looking for massive dividend payments to stick away in the Cayman Islands accounts, we aren’t looking for employers to break the bank to pay us.

What we are looking for is fairness, equality, a share in the billions and billions of pounds of profits & dividends paid to the nameless few who control the wealth in this country.

A victory for one is a victory for us all

Kate Ramsden's speech for "Protect the Right to Strike Rally"

Kate Ramsden, UNISON proud to bring solidarity to all trade union members in struggle

Because a victory for one is a victory for us all

That’s the beauty of collective action – of standing together in solidarity and comradeship

That’s what the Tories and the capitalists fear

That’s why they are attacking our employment rights and our right to strike

They know that when we stand together we are strong

And that is why we are standing together now

Saying enough is enough

Our right to strike is a fundamental human right

It is essential to balance the power between worker and boss

ATUC pledges continued solidarity action with striking workers - please sign the right to strike petition

Aberdeen Trades Union Council (ATUC) is continuing our solidarity with striking workers in all unions taking action for decent pay and safe working conditions for staff and the public.

Tommy Campbell, Unite, on behalf of ATUC, and ATUC delegate and Labour councillor, Simon Watson, joined the RMT picket line today at Aberdeen Rail station, to show our support for RMT strikers across the UK.

Wishing everyone a happy new year on behalf of ATUC, President, Graeme Farquhar pledged, "We will continue to join picket lines of striking workers as long as it takes to make sure that working people are paid decent wages for the work they do.

"That is not only morally right, but it also makes economic sense. We are still the sixth richest country in the world. We can afford decent wages if we end extortionate profits to the wealthiest and make sure everyone pays their fair share.

"Giving decent, inflation busting pay rises to workers is good for them as it means they are not dependent on foodbanks or excessive debt, but is also good for the economy, as we are the people who spend in our local shops and businesses, keeping them afloat. The richest don't even spend in this country, never mind our local communities."

He slammed the Tory government's attacks on workers' rights to strike and called on all our delegates, affiliates, friends, families and the public to sign this petition to protect the right to strike.

Graeme urged, "As the cost-of-living crisis continues to hurt workers everywhere, we need to be able to stand together and choose to strike when we must. These laws will do nothing to fix this crisis - they will make it even harder for working people to get pay rises.

"Every working person is under attack from these new laws. Add your name and join the campaign. 

"We must defend the right to strike."

Solidarity with Shelter workers striking for decent pay

 

Aberdeen Trades Union Council sent solidarity to Unite members from Shelter Scotland as delegates joined their picket line in Aberdeen. 

Shelter members were part of a national strike of Shelter members, for a decent pay rise.

Members have rejected a 3% pay offer which amounts to a huge pay cut. Shelter staff say they are struggling to afford basic necessities on their wages, with some fearful that they themselves could be made homeless without better pay.

They will take strike action over the next two weeks to force management back round the negotiating table with an improved offer.  

Support the Friends of St Fitticks and defend against a gross injustice

In her speech to the St Andrew's Day rally, Ishbel Shand of Friends of St Fitticks slams the threat to the last green space accessible to the poorest in the North East.

"I am here today to ask for your help in defending your fellow citizens from a gross injustice.  An unelected cabal made up of the Harbour Board, unelected officers at City Council, Scottish Enterprise and Sir Ian Wood’s ONE/ETZ company are planning to steal the last green space accessible to the poorest people in the North East.  This collusion of private interests and the political system is crony capitalism at its most sordid. 

Folk in Torry are already disadvantaged.  Their industries, fishing, ship building and repair, were lost to the oil industry.  Homes were destroyed when Shell replaced a picturesque fishing village with a major accident hazard site.  They were surrounded by landfill sites and industrial estates.  Edged by Wellington Road.  Home to two large harbours, a sewage treatment works, a gas turbine testing plant, a fishmeal factory. A 150,000 tonnes per annum incinerator is being built 500 metres from the Primary School. 

They were promised extensive environmental improvements by the Harbour Board and Aberdeen City Council in exchange for giving up Bay of Nigg.  That was in 2016.  Fast forward a few years and these two bodies were conspiring to remove Torry’s last green spaces and leave a settlement of ten and a half thousand people completely surrounded by industry.  The pandemic has shown us we need green-spaces for health and well-being.  Local health professionals have spelled out clearly what the loss of St Fittick’s Park will mean to the local community, where life expectancy is 13 years lower than in the leafier suburbs of Aberdeen, and healthy life twenty years lower.  The media has condemned the plan.  The list of organisations backing our campaign to save the park grows by the week. 

So why is this happening? 

Solidarity with striking posties

 Aberdeen TUC delegates and Unite retired members were out on the picket line at Kittybrewster depot on Friday 25 November showing their solidarity in the CWU's fight for a decent pay rise.

Royal Mail workers have had an unagreed 2% pay deal imposed on them. This is at a time when RPI inflation is running at 11.8% and when the Royal Mail has announced Group profits of £758 million and when the company is paying out many millions to private shareholders.

In a national strike ballot over pay Royal Mail CWU members voted by a 97.6% majority to take action.

ATUC stands in solidarity with the posties in their strike for fair pay and a decent pay rise.

Solidarity with striking posties

 Aberdeen Trades Union Council sends solidarity to the CWU in their strike action. 

ATUC delegates joined picket lines across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire today, 25 October, to stand with our brothers and sisters in struggle.

ATUC sends solidarity to striking rail workers

 Aberdeen trades union council sends solidarity and support to our colleagues in the RMT union, striking for better pay and for safe working practices on our railways.

RMT members took action on Thursday 18 August and will strike again tomorrow 20th August. 

There will be picket lines in Aberdeen tomorrow from 8 till 10am then again from 1 till 3pm. Please go along and support the strikers if you can.

Unite retired member and ATUC delegate, Tommy Campbell, who joined the picket line yesterday said: "No one knows better than us in the North East of Scotland the importance of safety on the railways.

"Only last week we mourned the second anniversary of the Carmont rail tragedy when two of our trade union colleagues and a passenger lost their lives as a result of failures to keep the railway safe.

"We stand in complete solidarity with out comrades in the RMT and with all other trade unions taking action for decent inflation proof pay rises and to ensure that services can be safely delivered to our citizens."

ATUC - standing in solidarity with striking workers

 Aberdeen Trades Union Council (ATUC) has continued to show solidarity with our colleagues in RMT and the CWU in their strikes for fair pay and safe working conditions.

The ATUC banner has been on every picket line in Aberdeen, standing alongside our striking comrades in RMT and CWU. 

With thanks to those ATUC delegates out on the picket line on behalf of every delegate to ATUC. 

Also see ATUC delegate and Unite retired member Tommy Campbell speaking to the media and making the case for strike action and better pay for all workers.

We stand in solidarity with you all.

ATUC sends solidarity to CWU in their fight for decent pay

Delegates of Aberdeen Trades Union Council have been out on the picket line in solidarity with CWU as they took a third day of strike action over their ongoing pay dispute on Thursday 14th of July.

Alan Robertson, CWU area rep for Supply Chain said: "Since the last strike day Post Office Limited has increased its pay offer for the year 22/23, but still nothing for 21/22, which our dispute concerns. 

"Our members were key workers during the pandemic, and continued to provide a service through-out. Post Office Limited continued to make a profit, but refuses to recognise the hard work of our members during the pandemic."

ATUC sends its support and solidarity to comrades in CWU in their fight for decent pay.

Solidarity with RMT in their strike for decent pay and against cuts to the rail network

 

Aberdeen Trades Union Council sends our solidarity to the members of RMT in their strike action to demand a decent pay rise.

See statement from RMT below.

RMT statement on the forthcoming Rail and Tube strikes

In the past few weeks, discussions have been taking place at senior level with Network Rail, Train Operators and London Underground.

Despite the best efforts of our negotiators no viable settlements to the disputes have been created.

It has to be re-stated that the source of these disputes is the decision by the Tory Government to cut £4bn of funding from our transport systems - £2bn from national rail and £2bn from Transport for London.

As a result of this transport austerity imposed by the Government, the employing companies have taken decisions to:

• Savage the Railway Pension Scheme and the TFL scheme, cutting benefits, making staff work longer, and poorer in retirement, while paying increased contributions.
• Thousands of job cuts across the rail networks.
• Attacking terms, conditions and working practices in a form of internal fire and re-hire.
• Cutting real pay for most of our members through lengthy pay freezes and below RPI inflation pay proposals.

In the face of this massive attack on our people the RMT cannot be passive.

Solidarity with CWU in their strike action for decent pay

Aberdeen Trades Union Council sends solidarity to our comrades in the Communications Workers' Union who are taking strike action on Monday 6th June to demand a decent pay rise.

The strike is an absolute last resort and is necessary as a consequence of Post Office’s ill-conceived policy on pay. CWU members delivered a 97.3% YES vote for strike action on a turnout of 70.2% due to the pay freeze. This means there is a clear mandate for strike action.

Post Office has a significant group of workers (Postal Assistants) earning less than £24k per annum and if they were strictly following Government’s Public Sector pay policy, these workers should have received at least a £250 pay rise – they have not.

On top of the pay freeze for 2021/22, Post Office has offered an insulting 2.5% pay increase plus a £500 one-off payment (pro-rata for part-timers) for 2022/23.

Despite repeated attempts by the Union to instigate meaningful negotiations since the YES vote was declared on 28th March, Post Office has steadfastly refused to get around the bargaining table. They are putting their heads in the sand hoping this dispute will go away.

Please attend SPSC event on 4 June and hear about life in Palestine and why we must support BDS

 

Aberdeen Trades Union Council is delighted to sponsor Scottish Palestine Solidarity Aberdeen's event on Saturday 4th June from 11-1pm in our ATUC premises in Adelphi.

We are urging all delegates, family and friends to go along.

The event will consider life in Palestine today, under oppression and occupation, especially in light of Amnesty International's report declaring Israel to be an apartheid state, and the call from civil society and trade unions in Palestine for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in support of Palestinian freedom and justice.

Tommy Campbell, ATUC delegate and SPSC member said: "We're excited for our first in person event for over two years. We'll have three speakers, discussion and authentic Palestinian food to finish. 

It promises to be a great event. Please come along."

Online and in-person tickets are available. You can register on Eventbrite. Click HERE to book your place.

The event is free to attend, but donations towards the campaign and event running costs are welcome.

Come and join the peace and solidarity protest in Aberdeen on Sunday 6th March at 4pm

 CND NE Scotland and Aberdeen Social Centre are co-hosting a peace and solidarity protest on Sunday 6th March at 4pm in Broad Street, Aberdeen.

All ATUC delegates and affiliates, friends and families are urged to come along to show solidarity with victims of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and to call for peace in Ukraine.

 

Find out more at the Facebook event

Scottish CND unequivocally condemns Russia's military actions in Ukraine and the threat to use nuclear weapons. 

 

The international community must stand united in ensuring that we protect and support civilians, and Scotland must strongly reject the violations of international law by Russia and the disregard for Ukraine's sovereignty as an independent state. 

 

For the UK to apply the use of force, individually or through NATO, would escalate conflict and increase the likelihood of nuclear misadventure through weapons use or involving the 15 nuclear power stations in Ukraine. We urge respect for international humanitarian and human rights law and accession, and compliance with international treaties to reduce nuclear weapons risks, including the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. 

 

Nuclear weapons do not deter conflict but make the world more dangerous, elevating the risk of a massive humanitarian catastrophe. We ask people in Scotland to help find ways of providing humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine and of enhancing dialogue with people in the Ukraine and Russia.