Solidarity members supporting the CWU

In Kilmarnock on Friday and Irvine on Saturday, workers will withdraw their labour as part of the CWU’s latest series of localised strikes. Friday will also see the result of the unions national strike ballot.

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said:

"Without agreement there can be no successful change in Royal Mail. This is a simple message which Royal Mail management needs to take on board. Postal workers are striking to defend future services as well as for jobs and modern conditions.”  

Solidarity Co-Convenor Tommy Sheridan addressed a meeting organised by Ayrshire Solidarity in the Grand Hall in Kilmarnock last Thursday to back the 700 workers threatened with the loss of their jobs.

Workers from Diageo’s Johnny Walker Whiskey plant explained that they were being kept in the dark by the management over the plans for their future however their union was little better.

One worker said "the plan of the company is clear they want to maximise production at present so they can build stockpiles of whisky while they close the plant." Another said the management are clearly trying to divide and demoralise the workers, we need to unite against their tactics and we need a clearer lead from the trade union."

Former Labour MEP Hugh Kerr said they could expect little help from the Labour government in Westminster since they were hand in hand with big business and the trade union leadership was little better.

Tommy Sheridan said "we should take Johnny Walkers into public ownership after all we have taken ownership of the Royal Bank of Scotland at a cost of billions of pounds it would cost far less to take over Walkers and save the jobs of Kilmarnock workers instead of city bankers" 

The meeting was chaired by former Ayrshire MSP Rosemary Byrne and Solidarity Kilmarnock organiser Gordon Walker also spoke.

Defend All Jobs at Johnnie Walker

Stop Diageo's Job Slaughter

Thursday 24th September

7.15pm

Grand Halls

Kilmarnock

Speaker: Tommy Sheridan

Solidarity supports the United Nations Conventions in opposing cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners. We believe the Scottish Government was entirely justified in releasing a dying man, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, so that he could spend his few remaining days with his family in Libya. Not to have done so and to allow him to die in jail would have been seen across the world as cruel and degrading treatment.

This would be our view even if Megrahi were guilty of the monstrous crime of which he was convicted. However, as every person in the legal profession, in politics and the media knows Megrahi did not carry out the Lockerbie bombing. Megrahi was in fact the subject of a massive frameup by the British and US Governments and a grotesque miscarriage of justice by the Scottish judiciary. Ultimately he was, as a loyal Libyan official, sacrificed as a pawn in a geopolitical game - handed to Scotland to end sanctions and released to develop oil.

They came in their thousands to send a message loud and clear to the bosses at Diageo – No job cuts to pay for corporate greed! The “Striding Forward Together” March and Rally in against the bosses at Diageo’s decision to close the Johnnie Walker plants in Kilmarnock and other operations in Hurlford and Port Dundas galvanised the community who responded in their thousands. 

Kilmarnock

Sunday 26th July

March starts 1pm from Howard Park

Rally 2.30pm Kay Park

Stop Diageo job cuts petition in Springburn

The ‘Keep Striding Forward’ march and rally will be held in Kilmarnock on Sunday 26 July as part of the Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock campaign.  The march will start from the Howard Park at 1pm where there will be musical entertainment from 12pm. The marchers will then head up John Finnie Street and under the arches at the railway station to Hill Street where they will march past the Johnnie Walker factory.

The march will then head to Witch Road, down Dean Lane onto Strawberrybank Road finishing at the Kay Park at approximately 2.30pm with a mass rally. 

Solidarity meeting after main rally;

 The Portman Hotel, Portland Road,

Kilmarnock KA1 2DL

Main Speakers: Solidarity Co-Convenor Rosemary Byrne and a Jonnie Walker worker.

For more information click on the campaign website here

A group of workers have occupied the Vestas plant on the Isle of Wight.

Their brave stand is in defence of 600 jobs under threat and to keep production going at almost the only British producer of wind turbines. The government says it plans to create a million “green jobs”. Meanwhile, in the real world, this wind turbine factory is being closed and Labour does nothing.

All 600 workers at the factory face redundancy. The factory is the largest employer on the island.

Rush messages of support to 07980 703115 and 07970 739921 and 07733 388888.

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Solidarity would like to add it’s voice to those offering condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the firefighter Ewan Williamson who was killed whilst taking part in a life saving operation at a fire in an Edinburgh pub during the early hours of Sunday morning. 

At a news conference, Brian Alloway, Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Chief Officer gave a report of the incident at the Balmoral Pub in Dalry Road in Edinburgh; 

"Our crews on arrival were confronted with a very severe fire, and whilst tackling that fire, a breathing apparatus crew of two firefighters were injured by the collapse of an internal floor. Tragically and despite the best efforts of all his colleagues at the incident one of those firefighters lost his life."  

"Our service is a very close knit community and we are all absolutely devastated by this loss. The thoughts of every single member of this service are with the firefighter's family. This is a tragic day for us."  

Mr Allaway went on to confirm that residents rescued from properties above the blaze owed their lives to the bravery of the firefighter who died and his colleagues. 

The tragedy is a reminder that firefighters risk their lives day and daily during the course of their duties.  

Solidarity have called on the Crown Office to explain the millions of pounds of public money allocated to the pursuit of the partys' Co-Convenor, Tommy Sheridan.  Lothian and Borders Police have been investigating the case for nearly two years with, at times, dozens of officers working full-time.  Solidarity Press Spokesperson, Hugh Kerr, said:
 
"The question of why this investigation was launched, and the resources allocated to it, has never been answered.  This is a waste of public money and a distraction of Police resources that cannot be justified."
 
Sheridan and his partner Gail are due to appear at a preliminary hearing on Monday 13 July at the High Court in Edinburgh at 10.00am.  Kerr called on Solidarity members to join him in a show of solidarity at the court:
 
"All socialists, trade unionists and activists should rally against this attack on our comrades.  Tommy Sheridan has never failed to stand by the people in struggle and it's time for us to get behind him to end this politically motivated action."

pic by Duncan Brown

Peter, whose children attend the adjoining St Gregory’s Primary School, told the meeting of the community’s determination not to give in to the council. He told of how the council had cut water to the building and was trying to cut of the electricity. The parents are in determined mood however and with support of the community have managed to stop the council from removing furniture and fittings from the building.

A campaign was mounted in Glasgow after the New Labour run Council voted to close up to 25 schools and nurseries in the city. 

An online petition to the Scottish parliament can be signed here

You can visit the campaign Facebook page here  

You can find out more about the campaign here