STUC opposes Trident as 'an extravagance and an irrelevance'

The STUC has renewed its call for Trident replacement to be abandoned and will revisit setting up Trade Union CND, focussing on job diversification for workers employed on Trident.

In a debate with major UNISON contributions from the union itself and several trade union councils, delegates rejected a GMB motion calling for Trident replacement as the ‘only game in town’ to defend jobs.

UNISON NEC policy chair Jane Carolan, in a rousing speech, supporting a Clydebank TUC motion, dubbed Trident: "An extravagance and an irrelevance" (see full text of her speech below).

UNISON activist Tom Morrison had moved the motion for Clydebank TUC, seconded by Arthur West from Kilmarnock and Loudon TUC. Both made reasoned, evidenced and devastating critiques of moral and economic case against Trident.

Kate Ramsden, speaking for Aberdeen TUC’s motion slammed the arms trade that sells weapons to repressive regimes.

She said: "Remember the bombardment of Gaza in 2014? The devastation wrought by Israeli bombs and missiles whose component parts were made at the Raytheon factory in Fife.

"Arms sales fuel conflict, support repression and make the world a more dangerous place for all of us, but especially those who through accident of birth, live in war zones or under oppression.

"And in the process, very rich people are becoming even richer on the backs of the suffering they create and care little for. It’s immoral, it’s obscene and it has to stop."
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Jane Carolan’s speech to STUC against Trident Renewal

TTIP needs international union response

#stuc15 UNISON NEC member Jane Carolan reminded the STUC in Ayr today about the need for an international response to the TTIP “assault on democratic government”.

A composite from four unions and four local TUCs called on the STUC to campaign against TTIP, support an international protest in Paris in December and to call for politicians who have an interest in the privatisation to declare an interest and abstain on voting on TTIP.

Collective bargaining a force for social justice

#stuc14 Collective bargaining is now essential for our economy, UNISON's Jane Carolan told the STUC annual congress in Dundee today.

In a 'back to basics' speech she called for a new manifesto for negotiating rights.

"These rights must be enforced and enforced together-we should not accept half measures or other attempts to distract us", she said.

STUC independence study everyone should read

The Herald newspaper has, well, heralded the STUC's 'A Just Scotland' comprehensive analysis of the key referendum issues. http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/union-study-on-union-everyone-should-read.23486896
    "It bypasses the entrenched positions, debunks the overblown rhetoric and provides a realistic assessment of various possible outcomes following a Yes or No vote", writes political editor Magnus Gardham. "Refreshingly, it comes at the whole question of independence with a genuinely open mind."
   On social justice, currency, Europe and economic policy, the Herald says the report "doesn't make entirely happy reading for either side. That alone should be enough to commend it to all open-minded, undecided or downright confused voters."
See the full report at http://www.stuc.org.uk/news/1053/stuc-publish-second-just-scotland-report

No place for 'performance management' which leads to workplace tyranny

LRD reports on research commissioned by the Scottish Trades Union Congress into new forms of performance management. The initiative was prompted by concerns of unions organising in finance and telecommunications about some modern HR techniques being used to 'to pressurise workers into producing more, drive down wages and create quotas for underperformers and manage workers out of their jobs.' An alternative approach is commended which allows 'workers to be respected, able to make a contribution, able to join a trade union, have a good quality job and be able to make comment without fear.'
http://www.lrdpublications.org.uk/publications.php?pub=LR&iss=1694&id=idp5058864
http://www.stuc.org.uk/files/Document%20download/Workplace%20tyranny/STUC%20Performance%20Management%20Final%20Edit.pdf

Scottish Union Women Take the Road to Dundee

#stucwomen13 This week sees Scottish trade union women take the road and the miles to Dundee for the 86th STUC Women’s Conference. The conference is being chaired by Eileen Dinning of UNISON and this year attracts 110 delegates from across the spectrum of Scottish unions.

20 October - Glasgow, Are you ready?

#Oct20 The Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) is mobilising for a mass anti-austerity demonstration in Glasgow on 20 October coinciding with the London demonstration.  The STUC will be applying for George Square to be part of the October 20th event but is awaiting approval from Glasgow City Council which is reviewing use of the Square for public demonstrations.

Pensions at the Women’s STUC

Following another set of positive ballot results for action on November 30th, the STUC Women’s Conference debated a composite on public sector pensions on Tuesday. The debate highlighted the usual issues of working longer, paying more and getting less but recognised the particular effects that the changes would have on women as public sector workers.

Grasping the independence thistle?

‘Which way will the unions jump?’ asks Chris Bartter in a debate on unions and independence as the clock starts ticking on a referendum in Scotland. Just how difficult will that debate be since most STUC affiliates are UK entities, with few of them reflecting internally anything like the political devolution that exists in reality?

Kirby new STUC President

UNISON Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby was elected as STUC President for 2011-12 yesterday in Ayr. Mike's recent appointment as Scottish Secretary followed many years as the lay Scottish Convener. The respect that follows Mike was evident at the STUC. From the warm thanks from outgoing President Joy Dunn for his 'inspirational support' to delegates in the Palestine debate paying tribute to the work he has done to support the Palestinian cause.

STUC calls on the UK Government to work towards a cessation of the current military action in Libya

An emergency motion was passed yesterday by STUC Annual Congress urging the UK Government to work towards a cessation of the current military action in Libya and to seek a diplomatic solution that will allow for a peaceful transition to democracy in the country.

Lilian Macer: "Low mean dishonest trick of health and care cuts"

"An Injury To One - Is An Injury To All is a timeless principle of the trade union movement. It's the principle that lies behind our Health and Social Care Services. It's the principle that underlines our determination to defend those services, those that rely on them, and those that provide them", UNISON Scottish Convener Lilan Macer told the STUC today.

Be bold in the defence of our public services

The Scottish Trades Union Congress will build the widest possible alliance to popularise an alternative economic strategy and to fight the cuts. Building on the witness of civic society in yesterday's special session of Congress in Ayr, and calling for the next step for the 'Better Way' campaign, Mike Kirby urged delegates to "be bold in the defence of our public services". The cuts we are facing across the UK are "not about money but about politics", said Mike.

One fifth of top 10 per cent's wealth would pay off debt

Just one-fifth of the wealth of the richest 10 per cent would pay off the national debt - and they wouldn't even have to pay it now, says Prof Greg Philo of Glasgow University: STUC 'There is a Better Way' video also includes inteviews with UNISON's Mike Kirby, USDAW and other unions. http://www.thereisabetterway.org/haveyoursay/there-is-a-better-way-march-rally-part-1

Reject the new orthodoxy that cuts in public services cannot be avoided‏

Today union members from all parts of the country will converge on Westminster to lobby Government MP’s about the swingeing public spending cuts anticipated in Wednesday’s Comprehensive Spending Review announcement. The lobby will be preceded by a broad based TUC rally which will be addressed by UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis. http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-18533-f0.cfm?theme=alltogether

There is an alternative: Organise, recruit, educate and involve

UNISON activists are rising to the challenge as a new organising energy leads to events across the country looking at new ways to involve members and activists and get out the message that there is an alternative to the ConDem ideological offensive.

STUC warning on labour market trends‏

Each month when labour market data is published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), media comment invariably focuses on relative levels of employment and unemployment. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/lmsuk0710.pdf

STUC: We need to stop believing that there is no alternative and believe in our own solutions

The STUC, meeting in Dundee, this morning laid out a radical plan for tackling poverty and inequality. Here we publish the text of the speech UNISON's Jane Carolan made seconding the motion.

 "It is vital that a key element of a trade union strategy should be tackling inequality and should be fundamental to our approach. The motion notes that this great country of ours is one of the most unequal in Western Europe.

STUC: Pensions – private sector cutbacks threaten burden on the state

The action of private sector bosses in cutting staff’s pensions is likely to threaten the UK’s economy, UNISON's Mike Kirby told the STUC today. Mike, UNISON Scotland Convener, pointed to the closure of large numbers of decent private sector pension schemes, and raise the spectre of a huge increase in benefits demands by their shortchanged staff.

Dundee 2010 - The STUC starts with call for 'collective prosperity'

Monday morning Dundee: the STUC gathers for its Annual Congress, the Parliament for Scottish workers. This time Congress is taking place as the General election rages on around us.