Delegates to yesterday's special Transport and General Workers' Union conference have voted to create a new trade union by a merger with amicus, which will form the UK's largest union with around two million members.
A ballot of all members of the T&G and amicus will be held in February 2007 on the formation of the new union. The new union would be the dominant union in major sectors of the economy including transport, manufacturing, banking, print, and agriculture, and would be an organising force aimed at unionising millions of workers in the twenty first century.
It is hoped that the new union, yet to be named, will be launched on 1st May 2007.
Speaking to T&G delegates, General Secretary Tony Woodley said: "Not since 1922, when brave and visionary men and women from 14 different unions came together to form the T&G, has our union faced such a momentous choice. To stay as we are. Or to seize the future, with all its challenges and opportunities.
"The challenge of rapidly-changing capitalism hangs over us. Globalisation is doing away with the fixed reference points many of us grew up with. A united union will mean an end to divide-and-rule, and the cancer of inter-union competition which has only helped the bosses, in one sector after another. A growing union, really investing in organising, will give more power to the elbow of our shopfloor representatives everywhere.
"If this merger is about one thing, it is this: working-class unity, the historic aim of our movement. That is why I believe that this new union, the best hope for the unity of the working class in Britain and Ireland, will become a beacon of attraction for other workers, other trade unions looking to fight back and win in the workplace."
Blair's Tour of Shame
Tony Blair's whirlwind tour of the Middle East has only served to emphasise the extent to which he has lost touch with reality. In service to his desperate and ongoing attempts to establish a Churchillian legacy for himself before departing office for a seat on the board of one of the many multinational corporations he has served so well, he has spat on the graves of the untold thousands who've been slaughtered in that war-torn region of the world, crushed under the wheels of that juggernaut of death and destruction otherwise known as of US imperialism.
On the back of a week in which he achieved the distinction of being the first sitting Prime Minister in British history to be questioned by the police, in which an enquiry into the machinations of British arms manufacturer, BAE, was quashed by the government in response to objections from the Saudi kleptocracy, Blair breezed through Turkey, Iraq and Palestine like a British gentleman coloniser of old.
In Iraq, as the occupation continues to unravel, with the death toll mounting ever higher, the Prime Minister had the temerity to deny responsibility for the carnage in front of the world's press.
Does he think the Iraqi people are stupid? Does he think they don't know that their country has been attacked and occupied not to bring them freedom and democracy, but as part of a project to colonise the Middle East in the interests of US economic hegemony?
For it is a fact, the premise of the carnage in Iraq is really very simple: poor people being sent to Iraq by rich people to kill other poor people in order to make those rich people even richer.
In Palestine, Blair refused to meet with the democratically-elected government of Hamas. Instead, he opted to echo the call of the existing Fatah leadership for an illegal election in an attempt to overturn the democratic mandate of the Palestinian people. The civil unrest which has taken place in the occupied territories is the direct result of US and EU sanctions, imposed on a people whose refusal to be ethnically cleansed from their land continues despite the best efforts of the apartheid state of Israel.
Solidarity, along with tens of thousands the length and breadth of Britain, along with millions around the world, is committed to continuing the campaign to end the twin occupations of Iraq and Palestine. This we do in the interests of human progress.
Meanwhile at home the war on poverty, on racism and inequality, will continue. It is the only war the working class should be fighting.
Oaxaca Urgent Action Appeal
Amnesty International Urgent Action Appeal
OAXACA - URGENT ACTION APPEAL
Further Information on UA 322/06 (28 November 2006) - Fear of torture or ill-treatment/incommunicado detention
MEXICO At least 149 people in detention
The authorities have brought serious criminal charges, reportedly including ''terrorism'', against 138 detainees held in a federal prison in Nayarit state. They were arrested during the 25 November demonstrations in Oaxaca. In many cases, those arrested were reportedly not involved in the protests or violence, but still face serious charges. Many detainees have reported being tortured or otherwise ill-treated as well as being denied adequate access to lawyers, family and medical attention. More than 200 people, three of whom are under 18, are reportedly in custody in Oaxaca state prisons and federal prisons as a result of the political conflict in Oaxaca.
The authorities had moved 141 detainees (34 of them women) 1200km to the San Jose del Rincon federal medium security prison in the state of Nayarit on 27 November. Many of the detainees had reportedly been badly beaten during and after their arrest, leaving many injured. However, they have reportedly received only very basic medical treatment.
The federal prison's remoteness from Oaxaca, and the excessive bureaucratic obstacles that prison authorities place on those seeking to visit detainees, including their families and lawyers, violates their right to access their families and effective legal defence. Families have complained of being refused entry and intimidated by prison officials. The detainees' lawyers were only able to see their case files after they were formally charged on 4 December.
Many of the detainees were reportedly not involved in the protests or violence, but were rounded up in mass arrests. Three soccer players were detained with a crowd of passers-by, and released on 27 November.
Amnesty International has received reports that there are at least 60 other people in detention in a high security federal prison and the Oaxacan prisons of Etla, Mihuatlan and Tlacolula, including three minors being held in a juvenile detention centre. Federal and state police reportedly continue to carry out arrests of some teachers on the basis of warrants issued related to alleged illegal acts carried out during the strike. Similarly leaders and supporters of the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca, APPO) have been detained on the basis of arrest warrants issued by state court judges.
Solidarity Co-Convenor, Tommy Sheridan MSP has launched a proposal to curtail the sale and use of air guns in Scotland. The Bill would be the first to use a “reverse sewell” motion meaning Scotland introducing legislation on a reserved matter.
If the bill was adopted it would mean the sale and use of these weapons restricted to pest control and sporting use in registered gun clubs. On launching the consultation yesterday Tommy said:
“All of us have a vested interest in safer communities. We seek maximum peace of mind for our children and the wider community. Improving society as a whole requires major and radical surgery to tackle inequality and the poverty it spawns. However small step changes can be made quickly to make our streets safer. One such step change is the banning of all air rifles and pistols. They are a constant source of vandalism, injury and even death in the wrong hands.
“The whole of Scotland was appalled by the tragic death of two year old Andrew Morton from Easterhouse in March 2005. He was killed by a pellet fired from an air rifle. Currently possession of such air rifles or air pistols is not illegal. I think that is unacceptable. The message this Bill proposal carries is air guns are lethal weapons and should be banned except for exceptional purposes in registered gun clubs or by pest control officers. I want the circulation and use of such lethal weapons in our communities radically reduced and eventually eradicated. It would represent a small step towards safer communities.”
In 2005-06, air guns were used in 79% of offences of vandalism, 63% of offences of reckless conduct with firearms, 57% of offences of minor assault, 75% of offences of serious assault and 8% of offences of robbery. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland has estimated that there are around 500,000 air guns in Scotland.
Not a Penny off the Pay Not a Minute on the Day
Two hundred local government workers marched in Falkirk on Saturday against the SNP led council who have issued thousands of termination contracts to staff and proposals to re-employ workers on inferior contracts. This is the first example anywhere in Scotland of a council walking away from negotiations and imposing new contracts. Up to five hundred workers in Falkirk face swinging pay cuts. Many more are having their terms and conditions undermined.
On Monday hundreds of Unison and GMB members will be on strike in Falkirk. The TGWU have not completed their ballot but will not cross picket lines. Workers are demanding "not a penny off the pay - not a minute on the day" which was the main chant on Saturday's demonstration and a return to genuine negoitiations. Solidarity gives 100% support to these workers and demands an end to these bully boy tactics by the employers. This struggle in Falkirk is vital as other councils across Scotland will be looking to see if Falkirk Council can get away these anti-trade union policies.
This is all being done in the name of Single Status - a fundamentally flawed system agreed by the unions and the employers in 1999 to supposedly deal with years of unequal pay suffered by women workers. However, Single Status was agreed without guarantees that there would be resources, i.e. money to equalise pay. Now the chickens are coming home to roost with councils across Scotland implementing cuts in wages, ironically including many women workers, and attacks on conditions to pay for Single Status. Solidarity supports equal pay and demands that it be fully funded by the Scottish executive. No worker should face cuts in wages and attacks on their terms and conditions. We support workers taking strike action as the only way to force employers and the Scottish Executive to pay up. With 28 of Scotland's 32 local authorities still to implement Single Status, 2007 could see major battles across Scotland in defence of pay and terms and conditions.
Solidarity Call on Scottish Executive to Dump the Business "Neds"
Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement have called on the Scottish Executive to end it’s cosy relationship with big business following moves to increase the influence of business in running devolved Government.
Permanent Secretary Sir John Elvidge announced that he was abolishing the Executive's 14-strong management group and setting up a new, eight-member Strategic Board, to run the service but has only cut civil servants from the Board, leaving all of the appointed business representatives in place as Non-Executive Directors (NEDs).
Rosemary Byrne MSP, Co-Convenor of Scotland’s fastest growing party condemned the move.
“Once again we see an undue level of influence from business interests and an accent on running public bodies as businesses. I call on the Executive to end this cosy relationship and appoint trade union representatives from the public sector unions and the STUC to replace the fat cats.”
The three NEDs are David Fisher, HR Director of HBoS, who last week gave guests at a champagne reception free Fortnum and Mason hampers while Farepak victims protested outside; Corporate Lobbyist, Shonaig Macpherson; and Bill Bound, a former senior partner at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, who was formerly employed by Ronald Reagan’s Administration in the USA.
New Labour Abandon Homeless Families at Christmas
Solidarity MSP Tommy Sheridan has criticised the Scottish Executive and Glasgow City Council for abandoning the needs of homeless families at Christmas. Figures revealed in an answer to a parliamentary question by Sheridan this week showed that there was yet another rise this year in the number of people registered as homeless. Overall in Scotland the numbers have risen by 4% this year and 38% over the last five years. Despite claims by Local Government Minister Tom McCabe that Scotland has “the best homeless legislation in Europe”, the number of people registered as homeless in the North Lanarkshire area of his own constituency have gone up by over 200%.
On Thursday, a report from Shelter showed that 5,000 children will be in temporary accommodation over Christmas. Sheridan, Co-Convenor of Scotland’s fastest growing political party said:
“These figures show yet again that all New Labour can offer to homeless people is empty rhetoric”.
Meanwhile, Glasgow City Council have closed a “one stop shop” base for their Homeless Persons Team in the city centre, relocating the various services to a number of sites across the city. Workers slammed the move warning that vulnerable people could be left in the cold and without vital services over the winter.
The Glasgow Solidarity MSP slammed the moves after discussions with staff who had contacted him over the moves:
“The staff understand the issues faced by homeless people and their voices should be heard in any change to services. The people in comfortable offices who merely talk about homelessness need to listen to those who actually work at the coalface."
Homelessness will be one of the main issues on Tommy Sheridan's radio show "Sunday Morning With Citizen Tommy" on Talk 107 tomorrow from 10.00am with a guest from The Big Issue. www.talk107.co.uk
Unite for Peace This Christmas
Anti-war campaigners from across Scotland will gather tomorrow (Saturday) at a series of events against the occupation of Iraq and Afhanistan and in sombre ceremonies to remember the dead and call for peace in the Middle East.
Solidarity Co-Convenor, Rosemary Byrne, will join a vigil in her home town of Irvine and the welcome those who take part at her conctituency office for light refreshments. The South of Scotland MSP said:
"With so much going on in our lives at this time of year it is easy sometimes to forget the sluaghter taking place in our name across the Middle East. I would urge all Solidarity members and others to come along to one of the events this weekend and stand in Solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq."
UNITE FOR PEACE - Glasgow
12:30 PM-2:00 PM George Square Glasgow BRING THE TROOPS HOME - DEFEND OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES - SAY NO TO ISLAMOPHOBIA Organised by Glasgow Stop The War Coalition
5:00 PM-6:00 PM War Memorial, The Cross,Irvine Brief Speeches amd Messages about the need for Peace, a Chance to Light a Candle For Peace. Organised by various local groups and campaigns Light Refreshments at Rosemary Byrne MSP, Montgomery Street, Irvine From 6.15pm
5:00 PM-7:30 PM on the steps of St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral, top of Leith Walk, Edinburgh.
Join the St. Marys Justice and Peace Group supported by Edinburgh STW
BRING THE TROOPS HOME FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN - NO TRIDENT REPLACEMENT
5:00 PM-6:00 PM Burns Statue Square, Ayr Brief Speeches and Messages about the urgent need for Peace in the Middle East Chance to Light a Candle For Peace - Vigil Organised by the Ayrshire Palestine Forum
Solidarity with Council Workers
Solidarity – Scotland’s Socialist Movement gives 100% support to council workers across Scotland who are fighting back against cuts in pay and attempts to worsen their terms and conditions.
We will join hundreds of UNISON and GMB members in Falkirk to protest against the actions of the SNP and others on Falkirk Council who ended negotiations with the trades unions and are imposing new contracts. We demand that the Council abandon their plans to cut wages and inpose new contracts and instead agree an acceptable deal with the trades unions. The Scottish Executive must fund genuine equal pay and provide the resources to local authorities to cover the costs.
The tremendous vote for strike action by GMB members in Falkirk and UNISON members in Glasgow are an example for other workers to follow.
Glasgow’s New Labour council were forced to retreat in the face of strike action last week and members of Solidarity played a key role in this victory.
Tricia McLeish, UNISON and Solidarity member:
“Women workers have suffered the brunt of low and unequal pay for years. It is scandalous the New Labour, the SNP and the rest think it is justified to cut the pay of the low paid, including many women, to deal with unequal pay. We need decent pay for all, and that is what Solidarity is committed to fighting for.”
The SNP, like New Labour have proved that, despite their words, in practice they are no friends of working class people and the trade unions. That is why we need a party that stands up for Trade unionists.
Solidarity are that party. We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with trade unionists in Falkirk and across Scotland. Join us!
UNISON Demo – Saturday 16th December – Callendar Park Falkirk – 11.00 am
Highlands Rent Increase is "Spiteful and Unnecessary
Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement party has condemned any proposed rent increase in the Highlands and Islands Region as “unnecessary and spiteful”
In a savage and wide-ranging criticism of the Council’s housing troubles, Solidarity, which was at the forefront of the No vote campaign, has identified numerous sources of funding that would make excessive increases in rents avoidable.
Steve Arnott, spokesperson for Scotland’s fastest growing political party in the region said:
“There was plenty of money available to fund the privatisation of council houses, so why is it not being made available to councils which retain their stock?
Solidarity Co-Convenor, Tommy Sheridan MSP, backed Arnott's calls, calling on the Scottish Executive to release Regeneration funding:
"“We expect the council to demand that the remaining £21 million of the £50 million Regeneration Fund, used as a bribe during the stock transfer process, be honoured by the Scottish Executive."
Arnott detailed many options for funding available to the region:
“Just look at the money sloshing about - £160million to write off the housing debt, £11million to cover debt restructuring, £5.6million to create the defeated housing company. The current housing debt is also falling by £7million annually, and by re-investing those repayment premiums of around £700,000 per year the Council could raise new money in excess of £7million per year. There are also unspent capital reserves of £14million that would have been lost in the event of transfer. Add to this a further £21million remaining in the Regeneration fund used as a bribe to encourage transfer."
Events Calendar
