The Scottish Government's first budget has set out what they have described as a "growth agenda" for Scotland. In truth what this amounts to is an attack on the most vulnerable and economically weak members of society as the SNP's progressive cloak is pulled back to reveal their neoliberal heart.  
 
Solidarity rejects the idea that creating an entrepreneur-friendly country, with slimmer public services, will lead to prosperity for the people of Scotland. 

Rally in Support of the Daycare Workers

Saturday 17 Nov at 11am
St.Enoch's Square, Glasgow 

Now in their fifth week of indefinite industrial action, Glasgow’s Daycare workers will join supporters in Glasgow city centre this weekend. The strike remains solid with all drop-in centres closed and the vast majority of service users and carers fully supporting the workers.

Scotland’s foremost fighter for justice and human rights, Aamer Anwar, will deliver a speech at the start of Solidarity’s conference in Glasgow on Saturday 10 November. Aamer will address Solidarity members on the current fight against “terror” legislation and the ongoing attack on civil rights in the UK. This will be his first public speech since he was accused of contempt of court by a judge, for reading a statement from the Siddique family following the sentencing of Atif Sidddique.

Solidarity Co-Convenor Tommy Sheridan will introduce Anwar on Saturday morning:

“Aamer Anwar is being targeted by the state for his political views and his unquestionable ability to express those views. Solidarity fully support Aamer and the Siddique family’s right to question the judgement of that recent case. We cannot allow the courts and judiciary to be used by the state as political tools to silence opposition.”

Solidarity Scotland's Socialist Movement 

Annual All-Members two-day Conference 2007

Sat 10th & Sun 11th November

Shettleston Halls, Glasgow

One year on from our first conference, Solidarity members and supporters will gather in Glasgow this weekend for a two-day, all-members conference.  All aspects of the party, from internal organisation to party policy will be on the agenda.  Solidarity Co-Convenor Rosemary Byrne looked forward to the event:

"It has been a whirlwind first year with an election coming just months after starting Solidarity, but we are building a powerful movement that is taking up the baton of the left in Scotland.  Solidarity members are at the forefront of campaigns and industrial action across Scotland.  Our party membership is growing week on week and we have become the natural home for socialists who want to challenge Brown's New labour.

"The conferences give us a chance to bring together all-members, not just a select few, to help shape the development of Solidarity into a real alternative for voters in Scotland, a party that is anti-war, anti-capitalist and pro-independence."

Writer Alasdair Gray and lawyer Aamer Anwar will be amongst those speaking at a public meeting on civil liberties being held at 7.30pm in Glasgow's Mitchell Theatre on Tuesday evening (13 November).

The meeting will bring together key figures from Scotland's cultural, community and political life to challenge the proposals for draconian new anti-terrorism measures outlined in the Queen's speech last week. The new measures include a bid to greatly extend the length of time that police can hold terrorism suspects before charging them - a move widely regarded as internment by the back door. The government has previously said that it wants to give police the power to hold terrorism suspects for up to 56 days - twice the current limit.

Trade Union members from across Glasgow and the surrounding area gathered last night (01 Nov) at St Stephens Church Hall in Glasgow. Members of UNISON, PCS, TGWU and CWU came together to discuss the ongoing fight for public service workers jobs, pay and conditions.

Fiona MacDonald of West of Scotland Solidarity chaired the meeting, she said:

“New Labour no longer represent the trade union movement and Solidarity are rapidly emerging as the voice for active trade unionists across Scotland. This was a positive meeting, well attended and with a shared attitude that this fight against Brown’s New labour is there to be won.”

Coming Soon:

NATIONAL SHOP STEWARDS NETWORK CONFERENCE

Saturday 01 December, Central Hotel, Glasgow 11am

Speakers include: Bob Crow (RMT General Secretary) Janice Godrich (PCS National President)

For Jock Penman’s report on the meeting click below

People and Parliament against Trident

Join the march to show that the people of Scotland support the Scottish Parliament's opposition to Trident Replacement

Edinburgh Saturday 3 November

11.30 am Assemble Scottish Parliament (Map)
12 noon March Off (High Street/Mound)
1 - 2 pm Rally Ross Bandstand, Princes St

Speakers include Jeremy Corbyn, Osama Saeed,  Isobel Lindsay, Music from Daivid Ferrard and Karine Polwart.

Organised by Scotland's for Peace

www.scotland4peace.org

The inquest into the death in Iraq of Gordon Gentle begins in Oxford today, 3 years after he was killed by a roadside bomb.

His mother Rose has campaigned against the war in Iraq and helped form "Military Families Against War" who demand immediate withdrawal of British troops from Iraq.  The inquest stops short of Rose's campaign for a full inquiry into the invasion of Iraq but she hoped that at least it would help "bring closure" to her family.  She said:

"I really want to know the truth, we've not been told a lot by the Ministry of Defence, just that he was killed by a roadside bomb.  I hope the inquest brings closure for us, at the same time I hope it's a learning experience and it'll save other boys out there."

Solidarity Co-Convenor Tommy Sheridan, a close friend of the family, added:

"There should be a full inquiry into this war and those who condemmed thousands of Iraqis and hundreds of western troops to death should face charges for war crimes.  Rose will always receive my full support, she is a tireless campaigner for justice."