Solidarity Co-Convenor Rosemary Byrne has criticised the plans to re-classify cannabis.

Solidarity, Scotland's Socialist Movement today gave it's full backing to NUJ members of the Herald group who are walking out today in protest at Newsquest's plans to sack staff and cut journalistic standards. 

In response to yesterday's decision by the parliamentary standards watchdog to suspend Respect MP, George Galloway, Solidarity accuses the nation's political elite of conducting a sustained witchhunt against a man whose only crime is that he has dedicated his entire political career to speaking truth to power, and has been a thorn in the side of a government which has inflicted untold suffering and violence on the people of Iraq and Afghanistan in support of US aims to colonise the region.

Postal Workers resume strike action at 7.00pm today in a fight to protect jobs and services as well as to win an above-inflation pay increase.

Gary Clarke, Solidarity member and sub area rep of the CWU's Scotland No.2 branch, writes below on the ongoping dispute and it's relevance to the wider campaign for public service workers:

The strike of at least 127,000 workers was supported by anything between 95% to 98% of the membership. This was a tremendous result considering the pressure from the management and the fact for half of our membership it was the first time they had been on strike. Management’s laughable claims that 60% had turned up for work are nothing more than a joke. Up and down the country there was nothing but closed offices with only managers working.

But since the first strike Royal Mail managers have refused to enter negotiations with the CWU. In fact all they have done is to re-affirm their intention to press ahead with their business savings without agreement.

Now we are entering a vital time for the dispute as it seems that the management are planning for a long battle. But they were taken aback with the strength of support for the strike.

Hamas have condemned the Glasgow Airport attacks last week in a statement following the release of BBC journalist Alan Johnston.

In a statement from the head of the Hamas political bureau, Khalid Mish'al they condemn attacks on Britain, Spain and other countries while calling for the release of 12,000 political prisoners held by Israel and the US:

"We condemn the attempted attacks in London and Glasgow — as we have done in the past after attacks in Spain and the US. We could not be clearer: Hamas will not accept nor tolerate anyone exploiting the sacred cause of the Palestinian people to commit acts of murder and carnage around the world. Our strategy has always been and remains firmly based on the principle that the resistance should be fought only within Palestine."

Leading Stop the War Activist and Solidarity member Angela McCormack welcomed the statement.  Angela was part of a delegation from Glasgow who visited Lebanon last year on an invitation from the popular reistance in that country.  She said:

"We welcome this statement from Hamas and join with them in calling for the release of these prisoners and condemnation of the car bomb attack in Glasgow.  I urge all Solidarity members to attend the rally in Glasgow tomorrow organised by the Glasgow mosques and stand together against terrorists and racist scapegoating of muslims."

Scotland United Against Terror - assemble 1.30pm George Square Glasgow

For the full statement from Hamas click below.  

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) today announced a further day of strike action commencing the evening of Thursday 12th July and continuing through Friday 13th July. Royal Mail group workers will begin 24 hours of strike action with shifts commencing after 1900 hours.

In announcing the strike, the union is again providing a further opportunity for Royal Mail to return to negotiations or face more strikes. The Union has written to Allan Leighton, Royal Mail chair, to personally take part in fresh negotiations.

Deputy General Secretary, Dave Ward said:

“Allan Leighton has the personal opportunity to avoid more strikes, simply by returning to meaningful negotiations. If he again is dismissive of his employees then there will be further strike action.  Over 95% of the workforce took part in the strike action last Friday; it shows the extent of the overwhelming support of the workforce to achieve both a decent pay rise and an agreed approach to automation and major change.”  

Solidarity Trade Union Organiser Jock Penman pledged full support for the 24hr action:

"Postal workers, like civil and public servants across Scotland, are facing vicious cuts in jobs, wages and conditions.  Solidarity will fight these cuts and give full support to the CWU on the picket line next friday, and in the longer fight to re-establish a publicly owned postal service."

The full letter sent to Allan Leighton can be read at www.cwu.org

Mosques and Islamic organisations in Glasgow have called for a rally on Saturday to demonstrate their resolve against terrorism. It will take place one week after the Glasgow Airport attack, with it also being the second anniversary of the July bombings.

They are inviting everyone in Scotland to take part, under the title "Scotland United Against Terror". Faith leaders, churches, trade unionists and others in civic society have been invited to attend, Solidarity Glasgow Organiser, Graham Campbell has called on all party members to join the rally:

"Solidarity will stand shoulder to shoulder with our muslim brothers and sisters, not just on Saturday, but in their ongoing fight against racism and scapegoating."

Osama Saeed, one of the rally organisers said:

"The incident today in Riddrie [someone backed a car into an Asian shop and set it on fire underscores the need to emphasise community cohesion at this point. We have a simple equation facing us. We have the terrorists on one side, and the rest of Scotland against them on the other – whether they be Muslim, Christian, people of other faiths or none. We mustn't start accusing people of being terrorists when they plainly aren't."

SCOTLAND UNITED AGAINST TERROR

2PM SATURDAY 7 JULY

GEORGE SQUARE, GLASGOW

Students from across the UK are in the fifth day of a six day protest at Coulport as part of the ongoing Faslane 365 blockade. 

On 28th June, 150 students created an alternative to the hedonistic summer festival circuit near Faslane nuclear base.  They established the Strident TentState to interrogate the concept of nuclear deterrence with experts from NGOs, thinktanks, pressure groups and parliament. Throughout the week, these informed students will also take direct action at RNAD Coulport, where Britain's nuclear warheads are stored.

The decision to renew Trident, made on 14th March in the House of Commons, means that nuclear weapons and their attendant threats will remain a reality until today's students are in their fifties and sixties. The camp represents a new form of creative protest, bringing together students and experts to explicitly link intellectual arguments and creative discussion to direct action against Britain's nuclear weapons system.

Jo Tyabji, one of the national co-ordinators, and a student at St Catherines College, Oxford, describes the camp's approach:

“Everyone will have a voice. There’s a lot we can learn from the experts working in this field, but the student-led discussions and workshops are just as important. Yes, many of us are frustrated with the decision rushed through on March 14th, frustrated enough to risk arrest at Faslane and Coulport, but what we are doing goes beyond that frustration to instigate real change. We are equipping ourselves with the skills needed to make that change a reality”

Katie Ulrick, a participant in the Strident Tent State and student at Leeds University says

“I want my presence to bear witness to the threat nuclear weapons pose. We are the generation who will live alongside these proposed new nuclear weapons – I am not prepared to let my life be overshadowed by such an apocalyptic presence.”

www.faslane365.org