Don't stand by - Aberdeen Holocaust Memorial Event 31st Jan 2016

Aberdeen City Council's Holocaust Memorial Day event will be held in the Belmont Cinema in Aberdeen on Sunday 31st January 2016 at 2pm. The event will feature the 1945 documentary, Night Will Fall, commissioned by the Allies and under the tutelage of Alfred Hitchcock that captured the atrocities in Nazi concentration camps.

The Lord Provost will introduce the event and there will be a range of speakers. Refreshments will also be served.

The event is supported by a number of organisations including UCU, Grampian Racial Equality Council, Ethnic Minority Council, Polish Association Aberdeen, Aberdeen Hebrew Congregation and Aberdeen for a Fairer World.

All are welcome to attend.

Holocaust Memorial Day 27th January 2016 - Don't stand by. Join the UCU event to reflect on its importance today

Come along to the Regent Lecture Theatre at the University of Aberdeen, on Wednesday 27 January 2016 from 12:30pm – 2:00pm and join the UCU-sponsored event on Holocaust Memorial Day 2016 to reflect on the contemporary importance of the Holocaust.

Professor Alan Marcus (Chair in Film and Visual Culture, University of Aberdeen) will be introducing and screening his film The Cemetery (2010, 30mins).

Engaging with the presence and absence of Kafka in Prague’s ancient Jewish quarter, The Cemetery explores the relationship between the contemporary urban setting and the impact of the Holocaust. Set against the backdrop of mass tourism to sites such as the oldest Jewish Cemetery in Europe and the oldest synagogue, where Kafka had his bar mitzvah, the film presents a visual and aural meditation on the intersection of the banal and the sacred. As the narrative unfolds, we learn the interlocking fate of Kafka’s three sisters and the tragedy of Terezin.

First ATUC Meeting of 2016 will be held on Wed 6th January with packed agenda as we prepare to meet challenges ahead

The next meeting of Aberdeen Trades Union Council will be held on Wed 6th January 2016 at John Londragan House, 22a Adelphi, Aberdeen. All delegates and associates are warmly invited to attend.

Kate Ramsden, ATUC President said, "We hope all our delegates and associates have had enjoyed the Festive period and wish them all the very best for 2016.

"This is the fisrt meeting of the New Year and we have another packed agenda. We have to agree our motions for the STUC Congress in April as well as plan for our 2015 Annual Report and for our AGM in March.

"We are also very aware of the challenges that face the trade union movement in the coming year as the government presses on with the anti-union bill and attacks on the most vulnerable Also the pressures that face workers and their families as the government continues its assault on wages, jobs and services.

"We hope to see as many as possible of you along as we look at ways to meet and overcome these challenges."

Festive Greetings to all our affiliates and associate members and best wishes for a happy and peaceful 2016

Aberdeen Trades Union Council wishes all our affiliates and associate members a happy and peaceful festive season and our best wishes for 2016.

The first ATUC meeting of the New Tear will be held on Wed 6th January at 7.30pm in 22a Adelphi, Aberdeen.

We look forward to seeing you all there.

PETITION AGAINST THE THREAT OF COMPULSORY REDUNDANCIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN

Aberdeen Trades Union Council is encouraging all our members and affiliates to back the University and Colleges Union (UCU) and to sign the petition to urge Aberdeen University to rule out the use of compulsory redundancies and to seek alternative, more progressive methods for placing itself on a sustainable financial footing.

Click here to sign the petition.

The campaign is supported by Aberdeen Defend Education Cuts (ADEC); Aberdeen Students Against Cuts (ASAC) and Aberdeen University Students Association (AUSA).

The union is saying NO to compulsory redundancies because:

·         Through the Voluntary Severance Scheme, the University has already saved the £5.4 million they lost from funding cuts

·         The University has also generated an extra £3.2 million in additional surplus

·         It wishes to make a further £1.9 million - not due to funding cuts but for additional surplus

·         The University has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies in pursuit of their goal

·         It is highly likely that staff will be placed "at risk of redundancy" from January 2016

Vigil on International Human Rights Day 10th Dec for survivors of gender based violence around the world

All are invited to attend the Candlelit Vigil on 10th December 2015 at 5pm in St Nicholas Square, Aberdeen.

Falling on International Human Rights Day and the final day of the 16 Days of Action campaign, Aberdeen Violence Against Women Partnership is holding the vigil to bring people together to honour and remember survivors of gender-based violence.

The vigil will include speakers from Grampian Women’s Aid, Sacro, Aberdeen City Youth Council and other members of the Aberdeen Violence Against Women Partnership.

Come and join us to light a candle and show solidarity in honouring and remembering those who have suffered due to gender-based violence.

St Andrew's Day March and Rally welcomes refugees in the spirit of our compassion and shared humanity

Around two hundred trade unionists, politicians and members of faith and community groups joined together at the Aberdeen St Andrew’s Day March and Rally on 28^th November to give a clear and unequivocal message that  in the name of our shared humanity, refugees are welcome here in the North East of Scotland – racism and fascism are not!

As the march snaked down Union Street to the rhythm of the Guarana Drummers, passers by again stopped to watch the colourful procession created by the banners of trade unions and community groups,  led as always by the red and white banner of the ATUC.

At the rally in the Castlegate, speaker after speaker spoke passionately about our shared humanity with all those fleeing war, poverty and oppression.