Please come along to the next ATUC Delegates' Meeting on 4th February

The next ATUC Delegates meeting will take place on Wednesday 4th February 2015 at 7.30pm, within the ATUC Premises, John Londragan House, 22A Adelphi, Aberdeen. All delegates and associates are welcome to attend.

Alan Robertson, ATUC President said, "This is a very important meeting as it is the nominations meeting for all ATUC Posts as well as for delegates to the ATUC, STUC etc.

 "Also, we have 2 speakers organised,  Fraser Lovie (Fair Trade Campaign) and Dave Black (Minority Communities Outreach Programme.

 

"We will also be staring to organise for the Workers' Memorial Day Service and the May Day March and Rally. We urge all our delegates to come along."

PCS act for Fair Pay in the Scottish Sector.

Aberdeen trades union council sends its solidarity and support to the PCS union as its members embark on a rolling programme of targeted action across the Scottish Government sector as part of a national dispute for which PCS members in UK departments took action on 15 October 2014.

Brian Carroll, of the PCS said, "This is crucial to our sector as our employers and Scottish Ministers continue to impose the same 1% pay cap as the UK government.

 

"Our message to Mr Swinney, the Deputy First Minister is - break the public sector pay freeze!"

The rolling programme began with PCS members in Registers of Scotland taking their one day strike on 8 December, followed by the National Museums Scotland strike on Boxing Day (26 December), closing the museum to the public.

City Link sackings “disgraceful” says Aberdeen TUC



Photo by Jon Woods

Aberdeen Trades Union Council (ATUC) has added its voice to the widespread condemnation of City Link bosses who sacked thousands of workers during the festive period.

At its first meeting of 2015, delegates from affiliated unions called for the nationalisation of City Link to protect all jobs and pledged support for City Link workers.

Scott Sutherland, of Unite the Union and an ATUC delegate said, “The actions of City Link bosses in sacking thousands of workers, especially at this time of the year, is nothing short of disgraceful.

“The fast track sackings at City Link demonstrate the worst elements of casualised Britain, with workers denied even basic rights to proper consultation.  This can’t go on.”

The ATUC has issued a press release and will now send messages of support to the RMT union and all its members affected by the sackings.

 

Holocaust Memorial Day - Learning the lessons of the past

Aberdeen City's Holocaust Memorial Day event will be held this year on 25th January 2015 in the ACT (formerly the Arts Centre) King Street, Aberdeen starting at 2.30pm.

The Lord Provost of Aberdeen is expected to attend and Leo McKeever, who is a member of the Aberdeen City Youth Council and a former Albyn School student will be speaking about his experience visiting Auschwitz.

It is hoped to show the film, "Sometimes in April" which depicts the story of Rwanda's genocide, not only as it occurred in 1994 but also as the country was still experiencing healing and justice in 2004,  followed by a discussion around the theme of keeping the memory alive.

Other events will also take place locally and information about these events will be provided as it becomes available.

Next ATUC delegates meeting to be held on 7th January 2015

The next Aberdeen Trades Union Council (ATUC) Delegates meeting will be held on Wednesday 7 January 2015 at 7.30pm, within the ATUC Premises, John Londragan House, 22A Adelphi, Aberdeen.

Alan Robertson, ATUC President encouraged all affiliates and associates to attend. He said, "This is an important meeting as it will consider the motions submitted by affiliates for the 2015 STUC Congress in Ayr. ATUC is entitled to submit three motions and those will be decided at the meeting."

Alan added, "We also need to begin the planning for next year's events, including the Workers' Memorial Day service and the May Day March and Rally."

All are welcome to attend.

Festive greetings from Aberdeen Trades Union Council

The ATUC would like to wish a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year to all affiliates, delegates, friends and supporters of ATUC.

Alan Robertson, ATUC President said, "We are sending festive greetings to all, and especially to our trade union members who are providing essential services over the Christmas and New Year period.

"We hope everyone enjoys the festive season, and gets a chance to recharge their batteries to continue the struggle against austerity in the New Year, by looking after all our members' interests and furthering the cause for fair treatment, respect, dignity and equality for all at work and in life in general.

"Have a great time everybody!"

We must fight against racism and fascism and demand justice and humanity for all oppressed peoples.

The St Andrew’s Day Rally on 29^th November praised  Aberdeen’s courageous actions 30 years ago when it gave the freedom of the City to Nelson Mandela. However, speaker after speaker warned that there is no room for complacency in the North East  -  racism and the far right are still with us and we must all challenge them wherever they raise their ugly heads.

Politicians, trade unionists and community activists had earlier marched along Union Street from St Nicholas Churchyard, led by the upbeat rhythms of the Guarana Drummers, and fuelled by a commitment to fight for social justice and humanity and against racism and fascism not only in the North East but across the world. Christmas shoppers once again stopped to watch the colourful display of banners and flags.