Members of Solidarity in Central Region join with North Lanarkshire Trade Union Council secretary Hugh Gaffney and John Milligan of the RMT to meet representatives from The CWU’s Keep the Public Posted Campaign at the Summerlee Industrial Museum in Coatbridge.
The Royal Mail and the Post Office are part of the fabric of British society. They provide a universal service to all. Postal workers deliver to every door regardless of the wealth that lies behind it. In its queues we are all equal citizens. Businesses of every size and shape rely on it. For elderly people, those with disabilities, parents, the low-paid and those in rural communities its services are essential. It works well and could work a lot better if it were modernised and properly invested in.
The CWU Keep the Public Posted Campaign
Tourists visiting the UK's iconic John O'Groats landmark gave the CWU nationwide Keeping the Public Posted campaign launch the big "thumbs up" yes on Tuesday.
Over the next two months, the campaign will visit every region of the UK, asking members of the public everywhere to sign our giant postcard to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, urging him to drop plans to privatise Royal Mail.
On the windswept extremity of Britain, CWU Scottish regional secretary John Brown, whose nation is hosting the first week of the campaign, said: "It's been a fantastic launch, what a great place to start and we've had support already from some of the tourists we've met.
11:00 AM Assemble Woodlands Centre Kilwinning Road, Irvine
There will be speakers on Palestine, Cuba, Post Office Privatisation and a special contribution from former North Ayrshire Provost Drew Duncan on the relevance of Robert Burns to the modern day.
Organised by Irvine and North Ayrshire Trades Union Council
Glasgow’s May Day 09 - Sunday 3rd May
Assemble 11 am George Square
Solidarity with Rob Williams
Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement joins the other socialists and trade unionists demanding the re-instatement of Rob Williams, the Unite Convenor of The Linamar car parts factory in Swansea Wales.
Rob has been very active in the campaign of the sacked Visteon car parts workers and has recently visited all three of their plants. His sacking is likely to be linked to his role in this struggle. The Visteon Unite convenors are demanding that Rob be reinstated and they, alongside many others, are calling on Unite joint general secretary Tony Woodley to also back the immediate reinstatement of Rob.Linamar is feeling the economic pinch and recently announced 140 redundancies.
To read more on the campaign to defend Rob click on the link here
Justice for Ian Tomlinson
pic by Guy Smallman
The campaign to win justice for Ian Tomlinson, who died after being pushed by police at the G20 protests in London, sprang into action last week.
The United Campaign Against Police Violence (UCAPV) was set up in response to the behaviour of officers policing the G20 protests. Activists, including RMT transport union general secretary Bob Crow, went to Millwall’s football ground, The Den, last Saturday to talk to fans about the campaign, handing out over 1,000 leaflets.
The Fight Goes On as Glasgow Education Attacks Mount
by Jimmy Ross
pic by Duncan Brown
Glasgow City Council voted to close 22 schools and nurseries across the city on Thursday of last week.
This was despite a brilliant campaign that saw occupations, rooftop protests, parents chained to railings, car cavalcades, lobbies of councillors’ surgeries, vigils and rallies. Parents and carers were understandably upset at the news but are determined not to give up their fight.
This news was followed immediately by press reports that up to 34 other Glasgow schools could be up for closure over the next two years. There are plans to hold rallies involving all threatened schools.
Campaigners are discussing taking the fight to the Scottish Parliament.
Solidarity with NUJ Workers
by Penny Howard
pic by Duncan Brown
NUJ union members in Glasgow took three days of strike action last weekend, crippling the production of the Daily Record and the Sunday Mail. They struck against proposals for 70 redundancies and are escalating their action with a further strike ballot on a change to shift patterns.
After over 50 days in occupation , victorious workers emerged from the Prisme factory occupation having secured their future. Launching on May 1st will be a new company, Discovery Packaging and Design Ltd, which will be run as a workers co-operative.
A statement released by the workers said; “Our occupation began to secure our redundancy payments and other monies that were denied to us by our employer when we were sacked. However, during the occupation we also decided to fight to safeguard our jobs because we believed there was a viable business, even if our predecessors did not. It looks like we have achieved this aim.
This victory would not have been possible if it had not been for the support we have had from the general public, trade unionists, socialists and many others. This support and solidarity has been overwhelming and has helped give us the energy and determination to carry on for more than 7 weeks.We said at the beginning of this that we were little people who had refused to be little anymore. We are proud of what we have achieved and our dignity is intact. We showed we would not be walked over by an uncaring employer.
We want to thank all those who have supported our struggle over the last 51 days, your support has been invaluable. Thanks once again to you all.”
For more on the Prisme struggle click the following links here , here and here or visit the Facebook page here
Solidarity with Jim Bollan
Despite differences that exist between Solidarity and the leadership of The Scottish Socialist Party, Solidarity condemns West Dumbartonshire Council for the suspension of SSP councilor Jim Bollan.The council suspended Councillor Bollan after they accused him of breaching the councilors code of conduct at a meeting in March last year. The local paper, the Lennox Herald reported;
pic Lennox Herald
“The councillor insisted that the differing accounts of what happened at the heated council meeting undermined the case against him, however the three members on the hearing panel disagreed and imposed the nine month suspension after an hour of deliberating.” Speaking on his blog, Jim Bollan says;
"I was recently suspended from attending any Council meetings for nine months for defending my right to represent Council workers in struggle against an SNP Council The messages of support I have received from workers, tenants and activists has been tremendous. The four main Unions on the Council, Unison, GMB, Unite and the EIS have drafted a petition calling for my suspension to be quashed to allow me to continue my full range of Council duties as an elected Councillor. It is heartening there is so many individuals and organised local groups who see the injustice in my suspension and the need to defend free speech and rights of democratically elected Councillor's to support and show Solidarity with oppressed workers." You can post messages of support for Jim Bollan here
Events Calendar
Members of Solidarity in Central Region join with North Lanarkshire Trade Union Council secretary Hugh Gaffney and John Milligan of the RMT to meet representatives from The CWU’s Keep the Public Posted Campaign at the Summerlee Industrial Museum in Coatbridge. 
The Royal Mail and the Post Office are part of the fabric of British society. They provide a universal service to all. Postal workers deliver to every door regardless of the wealth that lies behind it. In its queues we are all equal citizens. Businesses of every size and shape rely on it. For elderly people, those with disabilities, parents, the low-paid and those in rural communities its services are essential. It works well and could work a lot better if it were modernised and properly invested in. 
Edinburgh’s May Day 09 - Saturday May 2nd
Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement joins the other socialists and trade unionists demanding the re-instatement of Rob Williams, the Unite Convenor of The Linamar car parts factory in Swansea Wales. 
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