Rouken Glen Park Glasgow 08 May 6pm 

Zionist organisations are planning to celebrate the founding of the State of Israel throughout the UK. The main event in Scotland takes place in East Renfrewshire on Thursday, 8 May. Long-standing media reports link the Council officially with these celebrations. This at a time when the new UN investigator into Israeli conduct in the occupied territories, Jewish-American Professor Richard Falk, has compared Israeli actions in Gaza to those of the Nazis, and Israeli Deputy Defence Minister Vilnai has openly threatened a Holocaust on the people of Gaza if they continue to resist.

Bring your family and friends - banners and placards.

Saturday 10 May 2008 - National Demonstration for Palestine

FREE PALESTINE

END THE SIEGE ON GAZA – FOR THE RIGHT OF RETURN – END ISRAELI OCCUPATION

Assemble 1pm Temple Underground station/ Victoria Embankment, rally in Trafalgar Square.

Organised by: British Muslim Initiative, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Palestinian Forum in Britain.

www.scottishpsc.org.uk

Actor and political activist Ricky Tomlinson has added his support to the campaign to defend Tommy Sheridan and his comrades and family who have become victims of the Murdoch-inspired political witch-hunt.

Tomlinson could not attend the forthcoming campaign rally but sent a message of support to the campaign saying "Tommy's crime in their eyes is to successfully lead a great movement against the poll tax and go on to be elected in his prison cell as a workers' leader.  The Labour Movement and all those committed to uphold natural justice should unite in defence of workers' leaders who find themselves in this position."

Meanhwile the Scottish Regional Secretary of the FBU, Kenny Ross, has called on FBU members to give full support to the campaign.  In a message to all FBU officials in the UK he says, "In the true spirit of solidarity, it is incumbent on us to reciprocate the unconditional support that he has given us for so long."

The Public Rally to Defend the Sheridan 7 will be held in Langside Halls Glasgow on Saturday 7th June at 1pm 

Speakers include Bob Crow, Janice Godrich, Kenny Ross, Gerry Conlon & John McManus

To see a copy of the leaflet Click here

To read Ricky Tomlinson's full statement click 'read more' below.

"As long as the struggle of the workers against the bourgeoisie and the ruling class continues, as long as all demands are not met, May Day will be the yearly expression of these demands. And, when better days dawn, when the working class of the world has won its deliverance then too humanity will probably celebrate May Day in honor of the bitter struggles and the many sufferings of the past." Rosa Luxembourg 1894.

Solidarity, Scotland's Socialist Movement will join socialists and trades unionists across Scotland in rallies and events to celebrate International Workers Day.  On this day we send our comradely greetings and solidarity to all workers across the world who continue the struggle.

The contempt case against Aamer Anwar was heard at Edinburgh High Court on Tuesday 29 the verdict has been reserved.

Over 70 supporters of Aamer, many from Solidarity, picketed the court.

In an unprecedented action, a representative of Liberty the Civil Rights campaign, was permitted to make 3rd party representation on the Human Rights implications of the case and argue that a conviction would be illegal under the European Convention on Human Rights.

In an earlier statement, Solidarity said

"This is a vital battle, Solidarity believes that this action restricts the rights of lawyers to represent their clients.  This is a political action by the authorities against Scotland's foremost socialist lawyer and one of our most important campaigners for human rights and civil liberties.  We offer full support to Aamer Anwar, the Siddique family and the Defend Aamer Anwar Campaign." 

For full details of the campaign visit www.sacc.org.uk

A public meeting is to be held in Edinburgh on Saturday to discuss issues raised by the contempt of court charges against human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar. 

The meeting takes place at the Friends Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, from 2pm. Paddy Hill - one of the "Birmingham Six" wrongly convicted of IRA terrorism in 1974 - will be speaking at the meeting. Other speakers include terrorism and media expert Professor David Miller of Strathclyde University, and Professor Philip Taylor, who campaigned with Aamer Anwar to get justice for the Chhokar family after Surjit Chhokar was murdered by racists in Lanarkshire in 1998. 

Aamer Anwar is facing trial over comments he made last year about the conviction of his client Mohammed Atif Siddique on "terrorism" charges. Human rights campaigners say that the case threatens freedom of speech. This is expected to be a key issue when the case is heard at the High Court in Edinburgh next Tuesday.

A public meeting is to be held in Edinburgh on Saturday to discuss issues raised by the contempt of court charges against human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar.  

Solidarity is proud to offer our 100% support to the oil refinery workers at Grangemouth.                                                                    

For the “crime” of refusing to accept the tearing up of their pension scheme they have been vilified by the Ineos management and sections of the press in Scotland. In a disgusting campaign the oil workers have been accused of “holding the country to ransom” and of being “hell bent on strike action.” 

In reality it is the Ineos Company led by billionaire James Ratcliffe who are responsible for this situation. After buying Grangemouth from BP in 2005 Ratcliffe – who has a personal fortune of almost £2 billion - has embarked on a brutal assault on jobs and working conditions at Grangemouth. This has culminated in their decision to close a pension scheme that was negotiated and has been in existence for years under BP.

On Thursday the 24th and Friday 25th of April, PCS workers will take part in the latest of a series of days of strike action in defence of pay and conditions.

PCS members in the DWP should be congratulated for their readiness to take further strike action in the face of one of the worst employers in the country – this Government. DWP workers were the first to take on the Governments pay restraint policy in their fantastically strong and united strike action on December 6th and 7th.

Local government trade unions in Scotland have rejected a derisory three-year 2.5% a year pay offer from their employers. The trade unions representing 220,000 staff in local government in Scotland submitted a joint pay claim for one-year of 5% or £1000 whichever is the greater. 

In addition to the pay element of the claim, the trade unions also want an increase of 3 days annual leave (both at basic level and after five years service) and an extra one day public holiday. With inflation (RPI) at around 4%, average private sector earnings up 4.5% and house price inflation in Scotland at 14% the claim is just. With fat cat executives and big business leaders awarding themselves double figure percentage increases at the same time as over half of local government workers in Scotland have earnings of less than £16,000 the claim is modest.

The Scottish Local Government employers, COSLA, which is now an effective coalition of the SNP, New Labour and the Lib-Dems, responded by making an offer that spanned three years, proposing rises of 2.2% in 2008, 2.3% in 2009 and a further 2.2% in 2010. When this was rejected by the joint trade union side the employers varied their offer to 2.5% per year for three years. There was no offer to increase holidays. The negotiators view is that this is the final offer from the employers. In the face of current inflation and the uncertainty of how the economy and inflation will work out it would be foolish to accept such a three year offer.