TGWU New Labour Affiliation Considered Under Threat
In an unprecedented move the T&G has issued a statement urging member-branches to re-affiliate to the Labour Party in advance of the union's deadline for re-affiliation on January 31st 2007. The statement, which goes as far to remind T&G members of the "18 years of Tory misrule" before the current New Labour government assumed power, appears on the T&G website, suggesting a growing disquiet amongst the membership over the union's continued association with Labour.
Solidarity MSP, Rosemary Byrne, had this to say:
" When a union like the T&G is reduced to imploring its members to re-affiliate to the Labour Party then you know that things are desperate. T&G members and branches across the country are asking why a portion of their subs should go into the coffers of an increasingly anti-trade union, privatise-happy, warmongering political organisation like New Labour."
In another astonishingly blinkered attack, the Catholic Church has issued a statement that is reminiscent of the disaster that was Section 28. News broke earlier this week that LGBT Youth Scotland, an organisation that has worked consistently for nearly two years with the executive in addressing the issues of homophobic bullying in Scotland’s schools, has been commissioned to further implement it’s research work by addressing this enormous problem with direct work.
Michael McGrath, director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service said, "It seems strange when there is so much other bullying, such as that prompted by racism, that this group has been given another opportunity to promote its own particular interests."
In response, Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement, in support of LGBT people across Scotland find it more than a little disturbing that Mr. McGrath’s memory serves him so poorly. Less than a week ago, a BBC documentary dealt with the issue of paedophilia within the Catholic Church, where victims who had been abused by Catholic Priests spoke openly about their experiences, many of whom are currently suing the Catholic Church. No response to the programme was made by the Catholic Church.
Solidarity members rounded on Alex Salmond’s and the SNP’s vision of an independent Scotland last night. In a speech to the SNP conference, Salmond outlined his dream of an independent Scotland that was big on imagery but short on reality. He called for a green Scotland, but while the SNP say that they endorse “clean green coal technology” they fail to back it up with action.
Jim Walls of Coalfields Branch Solidarity, a convenor in the TGWU who represents open cast mineworkers said:“ Salmond talks of carbon capture and clean coal technology yet his party’s members campaign against every open cast mine in Scotland, actions that costs jobs for hard working families in Scotland. Without our indigenous coal industry, this country would rely on imported coal from China and Russia where trades unionists are oppressed and workers die every hour due to poor conditions. Scottish people don’t want to be killing Chinese miners every time we switch on a light. We have centuries worth of coal reserves here in Scotland and the technology to reduce the carbon footprint by 90%.”Rosemary Byrne, Solidarity’s MSP in the South of Scotland, questioned Salmond’s vision of Scotland as a 'Celtic Tiger' economy. “Scotland is a rich country, rich in talent and resources. We need a planned economy where everyone benefits, not a low wage economy allied to the EU. Let’s forge links with Norway, Cuba, Venezuela and other countries with systems based on common ownership and public control of resources.”
Yesterday at the SNP Conference a resolution was passed, once again calling for the scrapping of the Council Tax, despite the fact that they refused the chance to vote for just that this year. Tommy Sheridan, Solidarity MSP for Glasgow, introduced a bill to scrap the Council Tax, with he and fellow socialists willing to back an SNP amendment on the replacement, he added:“For years now, the SNP have claimed to want to scrap this hated tax on the poor, yet when given the opportunity to back a move to replace it with their own local income tax they refused, as did the Lib Dems. Talk is cheap.”
Imam Attacked as Muslim fears Grow
An Imam at the Dawutal Islam Centre in Glasgow was subjected to a vicious racist attack yesterday as fears of more violence grew in our Muslim communities.The assault follows last weeks fire bomb attack on a mosque in Falkirk in an atmosphere stoked by the right-wing press and Jack Straw’s comments on Muslim women.The Centre is in the West End and is used by GlasgowUniversity students. Racist attacks against Muslims are on the increase in Scotland and across the UK.Meanwhile in Dundee, Muslim students have planned a public meeting on November 06 in response to intense victimisation from a police unit created specially to monitor them, the Tayside Special Branch Community Contact Unit (CCU).
The CCU has attended meetings of the Dundee University Islamic Society, monitored events at the University's Freshers' Fayre last month, and even monitored the funeral of Shenaz Kapoor, a well-liked law student and active member of the Islamic Society. Additionally, they have visited the homes and workplaces of Muslim community activists as well as anti-war activists and academics in Dundee to enquire about their personal political beliefs and activist work.
Tommy Sheridan MSP will join Osama Saeed of MAB at the meeting, the Solidarity MSP said:
“We in Solidarity are committed to defending Muslims, immigrants, asylum seekers, and all those who find themselves under attack by this New Labour government. This latest attack on a respected religious leader in Glasgow is a direct result of Jack Straw's recent irresponsible and provocative statement”
Tommy Sheridan Joins PCS Picket
Solidarity MSP Tommy Sheridan joined PCS pickets at Glasgow's passport office yesterday. The workers called a 24 hour hour strike in response to continuing delays in pay negotiations, to be followed by a week long work to rule from Monday.
Sheridan praised the PCS members and called on the management to quickly sort out the mess:
"These are committed civil servants who are already feeling the effects of privatisation in their workplace, they have lost patience with the management on the issue of pay."
The Union had a succesful day of action with over 2,500 joining the strike, disrupting 30,000 passport applications. Next week will see a "work to rule" that will cause further delays in an attempt to force the management into action over pay negotiations.
Staff are also angry that whilst the cost of a passport has gone up by 50% in the last twelve months many have seen their pay rise below the cost of inflation by just 1%.
Commenting Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary said: "The disruption caused by today's strike action is regrettable, but the magnificent show of support has illustrated the depth of anger over the delay in dealing with this year's pay. Today's industrial action and the work to rule could have been avoided if management had fulfilled their undertaking to make this year's pay deal a priority, rather than cancelling negotiations. Staff fear a repeat of last year when it took the IPS over a year to deal with staff's pay settlement and today's strike shows that management need to act urgently to avoid further disruption."
Events Calendar
