Aberdeen Trades Union Council statement on cuts to local government

"Aberdeen Trades Union Council is appalled at the news that 5000 local authority jobs have been cut in the north of Scotland in the past decade, with 329 full-time posts cut in Aberdeen City alone between 2017 and 2019.

"Echoing the words of Unite's Tommy Campbell in yesterday's Press and Journal, "Although the workforce has been reduced, the workload has certainly not reduced."

"There is a pressing need to address issues faced by workers regarding pressures and stress and for greater staff support in the face of increased strain on mental health and pressure at work, especially when the need for essential services local authorities provide is only growing.

"Ahead of International Workers' Memorial Day on the 28th April, ATUC reaffirms that we stand with workers and communities in resisting attacks on services being imposed at UK, Scottish and local level."

Click here to read the article

ATUC message of condolence and solidarity to the people of Sri Lanka

Aberdeen Trades Union Council sends deepest condolences to all those who have lost loved ones or have been caughts up in the terrible terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka.

Once again we have seen innocent people, this time from the Christian community, targeted with violence whilst practising their religion. Our hearts go out to all those affected.

It is tragic that, so soon after the massacre in Christchurch, we are posting another message of condolence, this time for our Christian brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka.

We stand in solidarity with all victims of terrorism and hate crime, and we reaffirm that there is no place for such hatred in the world. We again pledge to work with people of all nationalities and religions to stand against hate crime in all its forms and for a society built on hope, love and tolerance, which values all people equally.

Land Day demo calls on HSBC to divest from Caterpillar

Aberdeen Trades Union Council delegates joined Aberdeen Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign to commemorate Land Day with a demo outside HSBC.

This aimed to alert customers to HSBC's complicity in Israeli war crimes.

HSBC is a major shareholder in Caterpillar, a company that sells bulldozers to Israeli military, which then uses the equipment to destroy Palestinian homes and infrastructure.

Tell HSBC to divest from Caterpillar!

 Read more at War on Want

Find out more about Land Day

Join the May Day March and Rally for International Workers' Day on 4th May

Please come along and march with us on Saturday 4th May at the 2019 May Day March and Rally to celebrate International Workers' Day.

As always the Aberdeen event is organised by Aberdeen Trades Union Council.

Please gather at Rubislaw Terrace at 11.00am, to march off at 11.30am down Union Street. A rally will be held in the Castlegate from 12.15pm.

Trade Unions, Community Groups, friends and families - please come and join us with your banners and placards!

Join us to commemorate Workers' Memorial Day and remember the dead - fight for the living

You are invited to attend the annual Workers' Memorial Service on Sunday 28th April in the Persley Walled Garden, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen.

Please gather at 12.30pm for a service at 1pm.

Organised by Aberdeen Trades Union Council, the International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) Service in Aberdeen will be one of many taking place all over the world on 28th April.

Its purpose is two-fold. Firstly it is about not forgetting those who have died, been injured, or made ill by their work. Secondly it is about ensuring that this tragic loss and suffering are used to reinvigorate the campaign for healthier and safer work.

Please join us if you can.

Vigil remembers the lives lost in Christchurch and pledges to fight hatred with hope and love

Over 100 people came together at a vigil in Aberdeen's St Nicholas Square on 18th March, to remember all those killed in the terror atrocity in two mosques in Christchurch and to stand in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters in the North East of Scotland.

The vigil was compered by ATUC President, Sasha Brydon. He told those gathered that the vigil was to give people an opportunity to come together to express our deepest condolences to all those who lost loved ones in the terrible shootings in two mosques in Christchurch last week and to express our outrage that once again, the politics of hate have resulted in the deaths of 50 innocent people who were doing no more than peacefully practicing their religion.

Sasha said, "We wanted to stand in solidarity with our Muslim communities in the North East of Scotland as we have stood with other communities before now who have been the victims of senseless violence for no more reason than they have a different religion or race or gender.

"But most of all we want to pledge to continue our fight against all forms of extremism, to oppose the politics of hate wherever they raise their head. The rise of the far right is a stain on us all and we will stand against it with hope and with love," pledged Sasha.

Speaker after speaker condemned the killings and urged us all to stand together against hatred and to fight it with hope and love.

Vigil to remember all those killed in the Christchurch shootings and for solidarity with our Muslim communities.

Aberdeen Trade Union Council will hold a vigil on Monday 18th March at 6pm in St Nicholas Square, Aberdeen, to remember all those who lost their lives in the terrible killings in the two Mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Please join us to show solidarity with the Muslim communities in the North East of Scotland and beyond and to stand against the hate that motivated this terrible act.

ATUC President, Sasha Brydon said, "We send our deepest condolences to all those who have lost loved ones in this murderous act. It is an affront to humanity.

"We stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters in solidarity against the politics of hate and we renew our pledge to fight all extremism with love and hope."

We hope to see as many as possible at the vigil.