The International Workers’ Memorial Day theme is to " remember the dead, fight for the living."
Tommy Campbell, Aberdeen TUC President said, "On International Workers Memorial Day we pay our respects and remember all those who have lost their lives through a workplace accident or an industrial related disease.“
"Whilst we will always remember the dead, we reiterate our fundamental right to fight for the living by ensuring that all workplaces are safe and healthier to work in."
Other events:
Others unable to attend sent in heartfelt tributes to Graeme, a Unite activist and former President of the Aberdeen TUC. He died on 23rd October 2024 at the young age of 64.
Graeme's widow, Hazel was presented with an award in recognition of Graeme's work in the field of health and safety.
There was a comprehensive talk by Steve Dillon, Unite Lead Officer for the Scottish Construction Industry and good friend of Graeme's. He spoke on the scourge of blacklisting and about the main Health and Safety issues affecting the lives of construction workers today.
Tommy Campbell President joined colleagues from Unite and offshore branches to lay the wreath on behalf of Aberdeen TUC.
Tommy said, “On the sixteenth anniversary of the Bond offshore helicopter fatal accident off the coast of Peterhead our thoughts are still with the families, work colleagues and friends who are still affected by this horrific fatal accident.
"It should never be forgotten that the helicopter operator was supposed to replace part of the gearbox just a week before this fatal accident. They failed to do so due to a lack of communication with the aircraft manufacturer Eurocopter. 
Left to right: Tommy Campbell,
Issy Sutherland, Paula Buchan, Phil Munro
and Graeme McNeish, Unite
"Had the helicopter operator taken precautions including following agreed procedures and communications these deaths could have been avoided."
Aberdeen TUC continues to support all the offshore based Trade Unions who are still demanding a full public inquiry into helicopter safety in the UK offshore oil and gas industry.
Following 16 months of genocide in Gaza, which has left more than 62,000 dead including almost 18,000 children, and further Israeli violence in the West Bank, which has killed over 900 Palestinians, protesters took their Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign into Home Bargains in Aberdeen and called on shoppers to boycott Israeli goods, and for Home Bargains to stop stocking them.
ATUC is very concerned about the response by Police Scotland to a peaceful solidarity protest that involved 16 police officers which we understand included at least one armed police officer. We are deeply concerned that this response by Police Scotland caused serious alarm to the public shopping in the area and to the members of the Scottish Palestine solidarity committee exercising their lawful right to peacefully protest in support of the Palestinian people.
ATUC believes that the right to protest is a fundamental democratic right, enshrined in law, and protected under human rights conventions. Under international law, advocating for and participating in boycott actions against companies complicit in human rights violations is not a crime.
At Aberdeen TUC’s first meeting this year we received reports of significant concerns from UNISON, UNITE and GMB Trade Union Workplace Representatives about the potential impact of forthcoming Council cuts on our local public services.
Although the Scottish Government’s budget has not yet been agreed, Aberdeen Trades Union Council is alarmed to hear that local Councils have been warned to expect more cuts in this year’s financial settlement from the Scottish Government.
Already Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils are on their knees, unable to provide many services critical to our local communities. No one can have failed to notice the perilous state of roads and pavements during the recent cold snap. Both the Councils' and the voluntary not for profit sector Social Care services are under enormous pressure with an inability to attract professional care staff leading to some care homes closing their doors altogether.
Tommy Campbell, ATUC President said today, “After many years of continuous cuts, there is no fat left on Council services. We are down to the muscle, if not the bone. Staff morale is at rock bottom and although they are all working over the odds to keep our public services running, they feel undervalued and disrespected.
The ATUC has to strongly point out that there is a huge disconnect between Scottish Government policies on delivering public services and our local Councils’ abilities to implement them as a result of year on year cuts to funding."
Kate Ramsden ATUC Executive Committee member added “The Scottish Government in their commendable commitment to reduce child poverty has ignored the fact that cuts to our Councils’ funding impacts dramatically on their ability to address child poverty at local level. If our Councils receive increased funding instead of cuts, they can provide the high quality public services they are set up for and this will improve the quality of life in our local communities.”
Doug Haywood President of the Aberdeen City Local Association of the EIS said, "Further cuts will have a direct impact on families who are already struggling. We are already seeing a rise in the impacts of poverty on our pupils, I fear what these cuts will mean for young people and education across the North East."
Tommy Campbell concluded “The Aberdeen TUC are calling for the Scottish Government to rethink any plans for further cuts to local Councils and instead to increase their core funding as a spend to save approach. If our Councils can provide the high quality public services they are set up for, this will be better for our local communities. It will mitigate child poverty, will ensure that vulnerable people can live in their own homes instead of blocking hospital beds and will save money in the long run.
The STUC commissioned report (link below) on taxation has shown how, with progressive political will, this can be achieved. We are calling on the Scottish Government to take brave political decisions and to invest more in our public services and by doing that we can properly support much needed services in our local communities.“
ENDS
STUC Options for increasing taxes in Scotland to fund investment in public services A report by Howard Reed, Landman Economics, commissioned by the STUC December 2022
https://www.stuc.org.uk/resources/scotland-demands-better-fairer-taxes-for-a-fairer-future.pdf
This year's march and rally will stand in solidarity against racism and fascism wherever it raises its ugly head. However it will have a focus on Gaza, wider Palestine and Lebanon, where the racist and apartheid Israeli government continues its brutal assaults, breaching international law and committing war crimes.
Laura McDonald, ATUC Exec member, who will be chairing the rally said: "The St Andrew's Day march and rally highlights Aberdeen and the North East’s long-standing commitment to inclusivity, solidarity with refugees, and the rejection of far-right ideologies. It brings together trade unions, community groups, activists, and individuals to stand united against racism, discrimination, and xenophobia.
Our Aberdeen event was an uplifting show of unity against the far right. With a mix of music, speeches, poetry and chanting, the event celebrated solidarity and inclusivity. All were welcome, all came along from all faiths and none and from across different communities.
