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.

Building bridges, not borders – report of 98th STUC Women’s Conference

Kate Ramsden was ATUC’s sole delegate to STUC Women’s Conference 2025, held on 29-30 October in the Glasgow Royal Conference Hall with the theme, “Women build bridges, not borders”. 

Kate has been a member of STUC Women’s Committee in one of two Trades Union Council seats for the past two years. She was re-elected unopposed for a further term. This is her report.

Delegates discussed a wide range of issues affecting women as workers, as trade unionists, as mothers, as carers. As always there was a focus on women’s health, highlighting that employers are still not addressing the needs of menstruating and menopausal women, pregnant and breastfeeding women, with calls to lobby employers and government for change. The shameful increase in the gender pay gap was also highlighted, alongside the rise in violence towards women and children and the impact on women nationally and internationally of patriarchal and class based oppression. And of course, combating the far right was a key theme which ran through much of the conference.

The STUC Women's Committee Manifesto for the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections was also launched at the Conference.

Kate spoke in three debates on day 1. Below are brief reports on each of them.

Celebrate the Sex Discrimination Act with courageous conversations about women’s rights
As delegate from ATUC Kate spoke to support a celebration of the Sex Discrimination Act (now subsumed into the Equality Act) but also to recognise the challenges in progressing women’s equality.

She pointed out the similarities to the ATUC motion from last year’s conference, also celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the Sex Discrimination Act.

Kate said, “Women make up a large and growing number of trade union members and yet we are still disadvantaged in a myriad of different ways in this patriarchal society which, despite decades of struggle, still privileges men”.

She called for a recognition that in certain circumstances, women, as an oppressed group in a male dominated world, need to be with other women who share our experiences.

She asked for open and respectful dialogue as to how women’s rights under the Equality Act can be fully implemented without disadvantaging other vulnerable groups.

“In celebrating the Sex Discrimination Act we have to have courageous conversations across the trade union movement,” urged Kate.

Report from STUC Women’s Conference 2023

Kathleen Kennedy, Vice president and Kate Ramsden were the ATUC delegates to the 96^th Annual STUC Women’s Conference in Glasgow, on 30 and 31 October 2023.

Conference backs ATUC emergency motion on Gaza

ATUC submitted an emergency motion on Gaza to the Conference, entitled “End the Genocide in Gaza”. Initially this was to be composited with emergency motions from the STUC Women’s Committee and the National College of Midwives, but were then heard as individual motions with the NCM withdrawing theirs.

Our motion called on the STUC Women’s Committee to continue to work with the General Council to highlight the terrible impact of this war on innocent women, children and men and to call for a ceasefire; to lobby our Scottish politicians of all parties to condemn unequivocally the bombardment of Gaza, to condemn the loss of all human life equally and to demand an immediate ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza; to call on all affiliates to support the demonstrations in cities across Scotland and to add their voices to these calls.

It was approved and is now STUC Women’s Conference policy.

Moving the motion, Kate Ramsden told conference that we are witnessing genocide as the world looks on in horror. She condemned the UK’s cowardice at refusing to back a humanitarian ceasefire, when we are seeing the massacre of over 8000 Gazan civilians including over 3000 children.

Kate said: “These are not statistics. They are real people like you and me. Children with hopes and dreams and plans for their future. Now gone and everything they dreamed off and would have contributed to the world gone with them.”

Standing on the shoulders of giants - the women who stormed the Grill Bar

The Grill Bar in Union Street commemorated the day 50 years ago when women delegates attending the STUC Congress in Aberdeen stormed the bar - then a men only pub - demanding their right to be served.

Police were called to the pub and the incident made national headlines. Two years later, a law banning pubs from refusing to serve women was passed. However, it wasn't until 1998, following further protests, that The Grill installed a ladies' toilet.

The event, organised by Aberdeen Trades Union Council, took place on Wednesday 19 April when ATUC delegates Laura McDonald and Kathleen Kennedy unveiled a picture frame of the three Daily Record photographs of the 1973 protest by women attending the STUC Congress in Aberdeen.

The unveiling took place in the presence of trade unionists, the proprietor, staff and patrons of The Grill Bar.

Although unable to attend, STUC General Secretary, Roz Foyer sent the following message:

"My apologies for not being able to attend in person this evening as you all commemorate the brave stand taken by female STUC delegates to be treated as equals in the Grill Bar on this day 50 years ago.

"I would like to extend my warm wishes and solidarity on this 50th anniversary of the storming of the Grill Bar in Aberdeen.

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 on local politicians to act over Turkey's "Marry your rapist" law

In response to the horrific law passed recently in Turkey allowing men to escape criminal charges if they marry the woman or child they had raped, ATUC have sent all north east MP's, MSP's and councillors the following letter. 

As we approach International Women's Day, we hope that all our elected representatives will join ATUC in condemning this sickening law.

"For the attention of all local-based elected Politicians: Turkish Government’s new law which allows men to marry the woman or child who they raped

The Aberdeen TUC at its recent monthly meeting agreed unanimously to condemn the Turkish Government’s decision to introduce a new law which allows men to escape criminal justice by marrying the woman or child they had raped.

We urge you to read the Independent and Morning Star newspaper articles below which reflect the serious concerns of many people and progressive organisations that are being raised about this horrendous decision taken by the Turkish Government.

We ask that you write to the Turkish Ambassador based in the UK and support the progressive and humane demand that this outrageous law be rescinded.

We look forward to hearing from you in due course as to what your views are on the Turkish Government’s decision to introduce this outrageous legislation and what action you are taking to support the demand that the law be revoked."

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!

Rise Up Quines - Aberdeen's newest Festival celebrating women 12-18 Nov 2018

Please get along if you can to some of the amazing events at a brand new festival for Aberdeen, Rise Up Quines!

The Festival takes place between 12-18 November  2018 at various venues across Aberdeen.

It marks the centenary of (some) women winning the right to vote. It will seek to celebrate women in politics and leadership, past, present and future.

It includes a range of events such as workshops, panel discussions, films, exhibitions and performances, and aims to inspire women and girls to become politically engaged and lay the foundations for them to become future activists and leaders.

ATUC delegates, Fiona Napier and Kate Ramsden will facilitate a Unions Into Schools Workshop on Wed 14th November with a focus on women's rights and challenging sexual harassment and discrimination.

Find out more at the Rise Up Quines webpage. 

Click here for a Festival Programme