Festive greetings to all and best wishes for a peaceful and happy 2021

Aberdeen Trade Union Council wishes all our delegates, affiliates, associates and friends our best wishes for a wonderful festive season and a happy and peaceful 2021.

We particularly send greetings to those providing essential services over the holiday period.

After a very difficult year where workers have had to rise to the challenge of Covid-19 and unions have stood behind them, fighting for their rights, their health and their safety, and their jobs and livelihoods, we can only hope that 2021 sees an end to the pandemic. We will then face a struggle against further austerity and attempts to make ordinary people pay for the pandemic whilst the richest continue to amass wealth. 

ATUC and its affiliated unions and associations will continue to stand up for workers rights and human rights at home and across Scotland, the UK and the world.

Thanks to you all for your continued support. 

Happy Christmas!

ATUC supports Plant a Tree for Palestine initiative

 At its December delegates meeting, ATUC gave its overwhelming support to the Plant a Tree for Palestine initiative, launched by the Aberdeen branch of Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC).

This new campaign which aims to build local solidarity with and support communities in South West Bethlehem targeted by illegal settlement expansion.SPSC member and ATUC delegate, Fiona Napier presented the campaign and ATUC agreed to donate £500 towards tree planting in Palestine.

More information can be found at the Plant a Tree page of the SPSC Aberdeen website, where you can also donate.

ATUC has a proud tradition of supporting the Palestinian cause and calling for an end to the oppression of the people of Palestine and occupation of their lands.

Fiona told the committee, “Initially this project will focus on tree planting as political resistance via the ‘Plant-a-Tree in Palestine’ initiative, raising money for trees that can then be planted by farmers and communities, contributing to sustainable economic development as well as symbolic resistance against Israeli occupation.”

If enough money can be raised by February 2021, it’s hoped the first planting can take place by March (before the planting season ends). £8 will allow one olive tree or grape vine plant to be purchased and the ground properly prepared.  You can donate here.

ATUC calls for support to keep Old Aberdeen Medical Practice under health-board control

Aberdeen Trade Union Council is deeply concerned at the proposal made by NHS Grampian and the City Health and Social Care Partnership's (ACHSCP) to put the management of Old Aberdeen Medical Practice and five other medical practices in Aberdeen out to tender to be taken over as a for-profit GP-led practice.

This means that they would be run for profit instead of being run by the health board.  All nine of the Old Aberdeen Medical Centre's G.P.s have now resigned and the practice is on the verge of collapse.

We are calling on ATUC delegates, associates, families and friends to go on and like and share the Facebook page 'Save Old Aberdeen Medical Practice' that would be appreciated https://www.facebook.com/saveOAMP.

Please also sign and share the petition on 38 degrees to Keep old Aberdeen Medical Centre. 

If your practice is Old Aberdeen you can contact the local MSP Kevin Stewart and appeal for him to intervene before Thursday when the IJB takes the decision to the next stage via 01224 624719 and Kevin.Stewart.msp@parliament.scot.  

ATUC commends Aberdeen City for flying the Palestinian flag on the UN international day of solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Today is UN international day of solidarity with the people of Palestine. 

Aberdeen Trades Union Council sends greetings to the people of Palestine and pledges our continued support for an end to the oppression and occupation of the people of Palestine by the Israeli government.

We commend Aberdeen City Council and the Lord Provost for flying the Palestinian flag today to commemorate the international day of solidarity with the people of Palestine.

This continues Aberdeen City's excellent record of international solidarity, including awarding the freedom of the city to Nelson Mandela when he was still a prisoner on Robben Island. 

As Mandela said, “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

ATUC Acting President, Graeme Farquhar said "We fully support the decision of Aberdeen City Council's Lord Provost  to yet again fly the Palestinian flag as part of the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the people of Palestine.

 

"The Aberdeen TUC in line with STUC policy continues in its efforts to secure peace and justice for Palestine in line with United Nations Resolutions aimed at bringing an end to Israel's illegal occupied territories of Palestine."

The struggle continues.

St Andrew's Day Live Online Event 2020

Although this year, we weren't able to organise our usual St Andrews Day march and rally along Union Street in Aberdeen, we were able to have a fantastic online live event, instead!

With a theme of standing against racism and fascism, a superb line-up of speakers, and some fantastic music and poetry by some very talented artists, the event was a great success.  Don't worry if you missed out though - you can watch it again online here:

Aberdeen TUC supports the flying of the Palestinian flag by Aberdeen City Council in solidarity with the people of Palestine

Graeme Farquhar

Aberdeen TUC has issued a media release supporting the flying of the Palestinian flag by Aberdeen City Council as part of the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Acting President, Graeme Farquhar today said, "We fully support the decision of Aberdeen City Council's Lord Provost  to yet again fly the Palestinian flag.
 
"The Aberdeen TUC in line with STUC policy continues in its efforts to secure peace and justice for Palestine in line with United Nations Resolutions aimed at bringing an end to Israel's illegal occupied territories of Palestine."
 
As in previous years Aberdeen City Council's Lord Provost will fly the Palestinian flag this Sunday 29th November to mark the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

This initiative is in support of the 2005 UN resolution 60/37 which encourages Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of this Day of Solidarity.
 

ATUC - leading in disabilities since the 1800s - celebrates Disability History Month

Aberdeen Trades Union Council is celebrating Disability History Month which takes place between the 18th November to the 20 December every year.

With a theme this year of Access: How far have we come? How far have we to go? it is timely to note that Aberdeen Trades Union Council's (ATUC) involvement with and support of disabled workers isn't new.

ATUC has a long history of campaigning for equalities and has been disability friendly from as far back as 1886, when two blind delegates attended Trades Union Council meetings for the first time. The two delegates were Mr  Johnston and Mr John Keir.  Keir had lost his sight as a result of an accident he had as a child aged four.

John Keir who was originally from Strathdon, went on to serve as ATUC President from 1895 – 1898 and he was also the Vice President  between 1888 - 1893.  He had an incredible memory for facts and figures and he barely got a delegate’s name wrong if at all.  John Keir was also the STUC President for a year 1898 when the STUC held their second conference which was in Aberdeen. Not only was Keir one of the former ATUC presidents he had also was one of the directors of the Co-operative and elected to the school board in 1894 and became chairman in 1911.