STUC recognises Ron Webster's lifetime of trade union activism

Ron receives his award from Pat Rafferty

 Aberdeen Trades Union Council is delighted to report that during the STUC Congress in Aberdeen, ATUC consultative member and long-standing union member and delegate, Ron Webster, was awarded a certificate in recognition of a lifetime of trade union activism, amounting to 80 years as a trade union member of different unions.

The certificate was awarded by Pat Rafferty, Unite Scottish Regional Secretary and STUC president.   STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer was also on hand to congratulate Ron, as was his firnd and comrade, Tommy Campbell..

The ATUC would like to congratulate Ron on this wonderful achievement. We are delighted that it has been recognised by Ron's union, Unite and by the STUC.

Ron himself is a past president of the STUC as well as holding the post of ATUC secretary. Ron was an active member of ATUC up until very recently and is well known and held in high regard by many of the delegates.

International Workers' Memorial Day service demands workplace health and safety as a fundamental right

 

Aberdeen Trades Union Council hosted a moving and well attended International Workers' Memorial Day service on 28th April in the beautiful Persley Memorial Gardens. 

The event was made particularly poignant after two years of COVID, when so many workers have lost their lives or been made ill as they continue to deliver vital services to our communities.

Welcoming representatives from many different unions as well as from Aberdeen City Council and political figures, ATUC President, Graeme Farquhar said that this years theme is make safe and healthy work a fundamental right.

"Every year there are more people killed at work than in wars. 

"People don’t die at work in tragic accidents, they die because their employer decided that their safety was not as important than making a profit," slammed Graeme.

Join our May Day March and Rally on Saturday 7th May and call for peace and prosperity for all

PEACE & PROSPERITY FOR ALL

 

INTERNATIONAL WORKERS’ DAY

MAY DAY MARCH AND RALLY

SATURDAY 7^TH MAY 2022

Gather at Rubislaw Terrace (just off Albyn Place) from 11.00am

March leaves at 11.30am for a Rally in the Castlegate at 12.00 noon

 All welcome,  bring your banners & placards. There will be a  pipe band, drummers , songs, speeches and poetry.

 

Join us to "Remember the dead, fight for the living"

Aberdeen Trades Union Council's annual International Workers' Memorial Service will be held on Thursday 28th April in the beautiful Persley Walled Garden, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen. 

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

International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) takes place all over the world on 28th April each year. 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. 

Graeme Farquhar, ATUC President said: "Sadly the numbers of workers dying at their work, or being injured or made ill are still far too high.

"No one should go to their work and not come home. At our annual service we remember all those who did not come home and we renew our pledge to fight for more robust health and safety regulation and inspection to protect the living."

See below for all the events taking place to commemorate International Workers' Memorial 

ATUC joins unveiling of commemorative stone to recognise role of key workers during Covid

 Aberdeen Trades Union Council took part in a ceremony as Aberdeen City Council unveiled a commemorative stone in recognition of the role of key workers throughout the pandemic.

The stone will be a reminder to future generations of the hard work and sacrifices made by all in the battle against Covid-19.

The ceremony took place on Sunday 27th March in the Kirk of St Nicholas churchyard, and followed a Covid-19 thanksgiving service to key workers. 

There was a gathering at the Town House afterwards, where a video premier of a piece of music specially composed by the award winning composer Paul Mealor, Professor of Composition at the University of Aberdeen, was shown. 

The composition and accompanying video gave thanks on behalf of the city to all those who had made sacrifices during the Covid-19 Pandemic and also featured key workers.

ATUC President, Graeme Farquar spoke on behalf of Aberdeen Trades Union Council. He thanked the Lord Provost and Aberdeen City Council for the three events. 

"It was an honour and a privilege to assist in the unveiling of the stone. The stone will now be a legacy for future generations to visit and reflect on," said Graeme.

Second Aberdeen protest against crippling cost of living rises at 1pm on Saturday 5 March outside Mariscal College

Aberdeen Trades Union Council is urging its delegates, affiliates and the the citizens of North East Scotland to join their second protest against spiralling cost of living rises.
It will be held this  Saturday 5th March at 1pm outside Marischal College, Aberdeen.

Click here for the Facebook event

This will be one of many protests being held across the country, as rising costs of food, fuel and other necessities already begin to bite, with local food banks experiencing significant increases in demand.

Tommy Campbell, ATUC retired union member delegate and protest organiser said: “ Yet again it is ordinary working people paying the price, whilst the energy companies make massive profits for their rich  shareholders. Once again it is the low paid and the poorest in our communities, older people and those with disabilities, that will be hardest hit" 

Come and join the peace and solidarity protest in Aberdeen on Sunday 6th March at 4pm

 CND NE Scotland and Aberdeen Social Centre are co-hosting a peace and solidarity protest on Sunday 6th March at 4pm in Broad Street, Aberdeen.

All ATUC delegates and affiliates, friends and families are urged to come along to show solidarity with victims of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and to call for peace in Ukraine.

 

Find out more at the Facebook event

Scottish CND unequivocally condemns Russia's military actions in Ukraine and the threat to use nuclear weapons. 

 

The international community must stand united in ensuring that we protect and support civilians, and Scotland must strongly reject the violations of international law by Russia and the disregard for Ukraine's sovereignty as an independent state. 

 

For the UK to apply the use of force, individually or through NATO, would escalate conflict and increase the likelihood of nuclear misadventure through weapons use or involving the 15 nuclear power stations in Ukraine. We urge respect for international humanitarian and human rights law and accession, and compliance with international treaties to reduce nuclear weapons risks, including the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. 

 

Nuclear weapons do not deter conflict but make the world more dangerous, elevating the risk of a massive humanitarian catastrophe. We ask people in Scotland to help find ways of providing humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine and of enhancing dialogue with people in the Ukraine and Russia.