ATUC joins with Scottish civil society to call for sanctions against Israel

Aberdeen Trade Union Council has joined with trade unions, community groups and individuals to sign an open letter calling for sanctions against Israel for their continued oppression of the Palestinian people, compounded by their threats of further annexation of Pelstinian land.

The letter reads:

"As representatives of Scottish civil society, we are extremely concerned for the fate of the Palestinian people who have suffered under Israeli occupation, settler colonialism and apartheid for decades. Despite the numerous declarations and resolutions of international bodies such as the United Nations which uphold Palestinian rights including the right of return to their homes and properties from which they have been displaced, no concrete actions have been taken to ensure the state of Israel ends its violations of Palestinian rights.

Instead we witness silence and ever-increasing complicity from our governments, institutions and corporations. In Scotland, our local authority pension funds continue to invest in some companies that arm Israel and in others those that directly sustain Israel’s illegal occupation, such as Bank Hapoalim. Meanwhile, our governments and senior politicians join with coordinated attempts to silence campaigners who are responding to the call from Palestinian workers and organisations from across civil society to boycott, divest from and sanction (BDS) the State of Israel and companies that are profiting from its breaches in international law.

In the line of duty - Unite senior organiser Davy Kettyles aims to raise cash for the NHS – with a song

Davy Kettyles

 Davy Kettyles is well known to ATUC delegates as he attended our St Andrew's Day rally a few years ago and the international brigade commemoration in Aberdeen earlier this year where he played and sung some of the powerful and moving songs he writes.

Davy has now written a song about the Coronavirus, "No tears at your grave" which is going on sale to raise money for the charity Asks for Masks.

Please go on and buy the digital track for a very good cause.

DOWNLOAD THE SINGLE:
Want to download the single? Here’s how you can

This is how it came about:

It’s rare for Unite Ireland senior regional organiser Davy Kettyles to watch breakfast TV – he normally listens to Today on Radio 4. But on one fine May morning, Belfast-based Davy, for no apparent reason, tuned into BBC TV’s Breakfast programme – and was surprised to see his old friend actor Adrian Dunbar, aka Superintendent Hastings as BBC’s Line of Duty fans know him – asking viewers to support the NHS-fund raising charity Asks for Masks.

Adrian was promoting a short spoof Line of Duty video promoting the charity – and Davy, who has worked with Unite NHS members and care workers – wanted to help.

“It was serendipity,” Davy says. “Adrian and I grew up on the same estate in Enniskillen and it just so happened I’d written a song about the Coronavirus, No tears at your grave.”

Join the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre - lest we forget

Hasan Hasanovic

Next week marks the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, which saw the killing of 8000 Bosnian Muslims. Commemorations will take place around the world to mark this anniversary, a reminder of how quickly division and prejudice can turn into killing and genocide.  The lessons of the past must not be forgotten. 

ATUC is urging all our delegates and affiliates to join the commemoration organised by Interfaith Scotland in partnership with Remembering Srebrenica Scotland. This will be an online engagement event on 8 July 2020 at 4 pm on the 25th Anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide. The guest speaker will be the survivor and acclaimed author, Hasan Hasanovic.

Hasan was 19 when the town of Srebrenica fell to Bosnian Serb forces in July 1995. He endured a 100 kilometre march through hostile terrain to escape the massacre that took the lives of around 8000 Muslim men and boys, including his brother and father. 

‘I want to speak to people and share my story because my heart speaks.  And now, finally someone is listening’

Contact admin@interfaithscotland.org to register and receive joining instructions or alternatively sign up with our Google form https://forms.gle/TztK3X8bEhiLxFEz6

Aberdeen Trades Union Council Executive Committee Statement on the UK Freedom Movement

Aberdeen Trades Union Council condemns in the strongest possible terms the UK Freedom Movement. The UK Freedom Movement is aiming at holding a number of ‘anti-lockdown protests’ masked as social gatherings, including in Aberdeen. 

ATUC is deeply concerned about the possible links the UK Freedom Movement has to the extreme right, with possible links to Jayda Fransen, former Deputy Leader of Britain First, alongside former British National Party leader Nick Griffin and Tommy Robinson also voicing their support. 

ATUC urges members of the public to not attend these events, instead heed the advice from the Scottish Government to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.

ATUC calls on Grampian Police, and Police Scotland in general, to investigate the organisers of these events for possible links to the far right and other organisations putting public health in danger during this crisis.

Aberdeen Trades Union Council Executive Committee

ATUC Newsletter - 5th May 2020

You can download our latest newsletter from 5th May 2020 here:

ATUC Newsletter - 5th May 2020

ATUC 2019 Annual Report

Our 2019 Annual Report is now available online. We traditionally hand out copies to delegates attending the STUC Annual Congress, a pleasure we have to forgo this year.  We look forward to a time when we can all gather again!

ATUC Annual Report 2019

Our Virtual May Day Event

Being unable to organise our march along Union Street this year didn't stop us coming together for our May Day celebrations.

We were able to live stream a joint event with Dundee TUC. We had a few technical issues but that didn't stop us!

It was a very different event this year but the messages were perhaps even more powerful about the need to value, support and properly pay our workers, especially those providing vital services to our communities and our most vulnerable during this pandemic.

When this is over things have to change. The economy must be run for the benefit of the many and not just the few, with a focus on wellbeing and not just profit for the richest. And we must tackle climate change and protect our environment, for our children and our grandchildren if not for ourselves.

Thanks to everyone who supported this year’s May Day event.

If you missed it when live, you can watch it here:



Aberdeen writer and performer Molly McLachlan recorded this poem for our May Day event on Friday. We couldn't show it on the day unfortunately, but are pleased to be able to do so now!

You can follow Molly and her work on her FB page - Molly McLachlan: Poetry & Etc https://www.facebook.com/mollymidden/



And here's Clype!