March 18th marks the 21st anniversary of the first mass protest against the Poll Tax. Thousands of people marched through Glasgow at the beginning of a movement that led that to a mass non-payment campaign and ended in the resignation of Margaret Thatcher. 

Solidarity’s Co-Convenor Tommy Sheridan played a key role in the campaign against the hated tax and he wishes to see the anniversary marked by calling for Scotland to adopt a Statute of Limitations that would prevent councils from perusing people with poll tax debts. “I’m proud of the role that myself and thousands of other ordinary working class people played in defeating both the Poll Tax and Margaret Thatcher herself.” 

“At the time we called it an ‘unfair, unjust and immoral’ tax. The Tories ignored petitions, protest marches and rallies and the ballot box. All we had left was the right to defy. Civil disobedience through mass non-payment. “ 

“Twenty one years on, we in Solidarity think that it is time for a Statute of Limitations that would give Scotland parity with England and Wales meaning that outstanding poll tax debt would be scrapped.” 

“People across Scotland face continued harassment for poll tax bills going back 20 years. Many couldn’t afford to pay then and they can’t afford to pay now.” 

“A much better use of the money and resources allocated to perusing decades old debt owed by ordinary people would be instead to chase those millionaire and billionaire business people who avoid paying tax by claiming non-domiciled tax status or setting up companies in offshore tax havens.” 

“Whilst pensioners, the poor and low paid are chased for measly poll tax bills by local councils, members of the tax avoiding super rich are rewarded with knighthoods and seats in the House of Lords. We consigned the poll tax to history, now it's time to do the same thing with poll tax debt."

Tommy Sheridan was Secretary of Pollok Anti-Poll Tax Union, Chair of Scottish and All Britain Anti-Poll Tax Federation. He was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment for defying a court order to help prevent a warrant sale in October 1991. Tommy served 4 months in Saughton Prison between March and July 1992 were he was elected as a Scottish Militant Labour councillor for Glasgow Pollok in the May elections of that year and secured 20% of the vote and came 2nd in the Westminster election of April 1992. Tommy is now co-convenor of Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement.  

Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement today welcomed the news that trade unionists across the world are preparing to show solidarity with striking BA cabin crew workers.

Whilst New Labour and Gordon Brown have shamefully attacked a union and its members that funds his own party to the tune of millions of pounds a year, workers in the USA, France and Germany will take action to support the UNITE members. Brown and his unelected Transport Secretary Lord Adonis have called the action of the workers “deplorable” and “unjustified” but Solidarity Co-Convenor Tommy Sheridan has said that it is the bosses who are “cruel” and “callous.” 

Tommy Sheridan said; “I congratulate those workers in the Teamsters Union in the USA, the Ver Di Service Union in Germany and the numerous French trade unionists who are planning to stand shoulder to shoulder with BA cabin crew.” 

“It is shameful that a New Labour Government, funded by millions of pounds of UNITE member’s money, should attack workers taking industrial action to defend pay and conditions.“

"The management of BA want to bring in a new set of workers, on worse pay and conditions, with current crew members working with reduced crew numbers, shorter rest times, fewer holidays and cuts in pay.” 

“Management have tried to portray BA staff as greedy and claim they are the best paid in the business. What they don’t tell you is that 70% of cabin crew earn less than £20,000 a year and many rely on tax credits or second jobs to survive." 

Walsh jets off with £62k per month

“If these crews are the best paid then it shows the scandalous levels of low pay that exist in the airline industry. It used to be the Labour Party that would argue for other workers to be brought up to the levels of the best paid in the industry but those days are long gone. Come the General Election however, the same Government Ministers lining up to attack the union and its members will go back to them with begging bowl in hand asking for donations to fight their election campaign.” 

“We in Solidarity stand shoulder to shoulder with the striking cabin crew members and their brothers and sisters in the trade union movement throughout the world.”

CUT TRIDENT - NOT JOBS

March and Rally
Saturday 13th March 2010 Edinburgh

Assemble Scottish Parliament 11 am
March off 11.30 am
Rally Grassmarket 12.30 pm

Ayrshire Friends of Refugees 

Mother’s Day Gathering at Dungavel Removal Centre 

No more mothers in detention 

Sunday 14th March 1pm

All Welcome  

Bring voices, banners and friends