We need your support: Stand up for the right to free speech, September 9th, 10am outside Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Aberdeen Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign is calling on trade unionists and concerned citizens to stand up for the right to free speech, and come along and support activist Ally Coutts on Friday September 9th, at 10am outside Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

 Aberdeen resident and human rights campaigner, Ally was arrested, detained for 7 hours and charged with “Acting in a racially aggravated manner with intent to cause distress and alarm" for simply saying “Viva Palestina” next to the Jericho Cosmetics stall in Union Square, Aberdeen.

Jericho Cosmetics sell products derived from minerals illegally extracted from occupied Palestinian territories surrounding the Dead Sea. The extraction and commercialisation of resources from an occupied territory by the occupant is prohibited by UN resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention (http://www.cjpme.org/fs_146). Notably, Palestinians have no access to such resources - the exclusive access of resources to a section of the population based on ethnicity amounts to apartheid as defined by the UN.

Say No to Jericho's Stolen Resources - Sign the petition today

Please sign and share this online petition at 38 Degrees from Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign SPSC Aberdeen, calling on Union Square and Trinity Centre to distance themselves from the theft of resources and human right abuses by removing Jericho Cosmetics stalls from their premises.

The Dead Sea products company Jericho Cosmetics trades from stalls in Aberdeen’s Union Square and Trinity Centre. Their products are made with minerals illegally extracted by Israeli authorities from occupied Palestinian territories surrounding the Dead Sea.

For the past few months, SPSC Aberdeen has been campaigning against the stalls by leafleting Saturday shoppers and  urging them to boycott Jericho cosmetics.

Campaigns in Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh have resulted in the closure of Dead Sea cosmetics stalls in shopping centres across Scotland. Let's make sure Aberdeen follows!

Please sign and share widely: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/say-no-to-jericho-s-stolen-resources-1

ATUC sends support and solidarity to Unite and RMT in their 48 hour strike to protect pay and conditions for Wood Group offshore workers.

Aberdeen Trades Union Council send support and solidarity once again to our Unite and RMT colleagues in the North Sea offshore oil and gas sector who have begun a 48-hour strike today after company managers rejected an offer from trade unions.

The Unite website has the following statement about the action.

"Workers in the trade unions Unite and RMT will go ahead with the planned stoppage as part of an ongoing dispute with employers Wood Group. The workers are facing a massive cut in pay and allowances of up to 30 per cent.

In last-minute meetings this week, unions had offered to suspend the strike if the company agreed to remove their current proposal in full to allow for further consultation and negotiation. The company refused.

Unite regional officer John Boland said: “We are extremely disappointed that Wood Group has decided to continue its attack on the pay and allowances of offshore workers. We repeat our call for proper consultation and negotiation.

“Industrial action is always a last resort and throughout this dispute we have constructively sought to find a resolution. We need to look forward and work towards a sustainable solution.

Commemorate Hiroshima at the Aberdeen CND gathering in Union Terrace Gardens on Sat 6th August at 2pm.

This year Aberdeen Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) will be holding their annual gathering to commemorate Hiroshima Day on Saturday 6th August at 2.00pm, in Union Terrace Gardens in Aberdeen. 

The rules of the garden do not allow  organised speakers but there will be two minutes silence at 2.30pm when, weather permitting, those attending and able, will be asked to lie down.

One of the organisers, Jonathan Russell said, "We encourage you all to come along with your family and remember the families who died on that day in 1945. 

"Bring flowers and candles so that we can make a peace symbol. 

"Come along with musical instruments to play appropriate music and a picnic so that you can sit awhile afterwards."

For further information click here to go to the Facebook page.

Local trade unionists gear up to take Unions into Schools

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Ten trade unionists from four unions six local union branches attended the STUC's Unions into Schools Training in Aberdeen on Saturday 30th July.

Tutored by Terry Anderson, the lively ATUC organised training session equipped the activists to go into schools and provide training on such trade union issues as employment rights and equality in the workplace.

Branch chair, Kate Ramsden said, "It was an excellent session which looked at the background to the STUC's Unions into Schools programme and the many successes it has had in terms of informing young people about the benefits of trade unionism and encouraging their participation.

"The STUC materials are up to date and relevant and we are all looking forward to getting involved in providing this input to local schools.

"With huge thanks to Laura McDonald for organising the event, to Brian Carroll for the venue and to Terry Anderson for his excellent tutoring. Thanks also to Pauline Walker at the STUC for facilitating the programme."

Click here to find out more on the STUC Unions into Schools webpage

ATUC sends support and solidarity to Unite and RMT Wood Group members who have voted overwhelmingly for strike action

Aberdeen Trade Union Council is sending messages of support and solidarity to our colleagues in Unite and RMT working for the Wood Group across Shell operated assets.

Almost 400 members of Unite and RMT unions working for Wood Group across eight Shell oil and gas platforms in the North Sea will be striking for the first time in a generation in a dispute over 30 per cent pay cuts and changes to allowances, it was announced today (Monday 18 July).

The first 24-hour stoppage will take place on 26 July, this will be followed by a series of other stoppages over the following weeks.

- See more at: http://www.unitetheunion.org/how-we-help/listofregions/scotland/latestnews/north-sea-oil-and-gas-workers-to-strike-for-the-first-time-in-a-generation/#sthash.1uw7CojI.dpuf

A ballot of Wood Group employees coordinated between the two unions has returned with a massive majority supporting industrial action.

The ballot results from both unions are well over the 50% turnout threshold and have huge majorities in support of industrial action in the form of strike and action short of strike. In the case of Unite 99.1% voted in favour of industrial action while 98.5% of RMT members voted to support industrial action.

The first 24 hour stoppage will take place on 26th July followed by a series of other stoppages over the following weeks.

John Boland, Unite Regional Officer said; “Despite the best efforts of the full time officials and workforce shop stewards to broker a deal with the company, talks have failed to find an acceptable deal for the workforce. We now find ourselves forced down the route of industrial action".


"That said, we remain available for talks should the company wish to consider an alternative offer. However, any talks must respect the workers and especially with regards to exercising their democratic rights in a dispute situation. Therefore the move by Shell to engage a scab labour workforce through various agencies to cover any potential industrial action is extremely disturbing.”


Jake Molloy, RMT Regional Organiser said; “After two rounds of redundancy, the imposition of an additional 4 to 5 weeks of work annually, forced to work a 3:3 rota, the increase in workload, and the restrictions on leave, this battered and bruised workforce are being told they have to accept all of this with a reduction in salary of anything from 10 to 30%. The workforce message is clear, ‘Enough is Enough’ and it’s little wonder we find ourselves in this situation.”

Unite and RMT are members of the Offshore Coordinating Group of trade unions.

LAJEE TO ABERDEEN: A CELEBRATION OF PALESTINIAN CULTURAL RESISTANCE

Join us on Tuesday 19th July at 6pm at Queens Cross Church, Albyn Place, Aberdeen AB10 1YN  in welcoming Lajee Center to Scotland.


Coming from Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, 21 Palestinian youths will be performing traditional dabke dance and speaking about their life and work in Aida Camp and Palestine.

Lajee Center is bringing over a wonderful group of young artists, dancers, musicians, photographers and film-makers - this is their opportunity to share their stories, life and struggle under occupation with Aberdeen. 

Please come along, listen, learn, enjoy, and support freedom for Palestine!

Aberdeen Trades Union Council has donated to sponsor this event in Aberdeen. 

ALL WELCOME!

Suggested donations £10/£5 (unwaged/student)