Coalfields Solidarity, the industrial branch of Scotland's largest socialist party formed by workers in Scotland's open-cast coal industry, have condemned the decision of New Labour leader Gordon Brown to grant a state funeral to Margaret Thatcher. In a statement, branch organiser Jim Monaghan:
"There will be a plenty of celebration in Cumnock and other former mining communities when Thatcher goes, but we wont be celebrating her achievements, we will be celebrating her end. She replaced coal with heroin and jobs with despair in this town and many others like it across the country. Gordon Brown should be ashamed that he choses to recognise Thacher's devastation as something to be rewarded, shame on him."
Tommy Sheridan, Solidarity's co-convenor also attacked the idea. In a radio interview he said:
"This is an insult to the millions of pensioners who were robbed when she ended the link to wage rises and prices, Thatcher shouldnt be given a state funeral, she should be burned at the stake, a private cremation would do."
for the full satement from Coalfields Solidarity click 'read more' below
Solidarity candidate Tricia Mcleish campaigns today in the Glasgow East by-election raising the issue of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Solidarity candidate Tricia McLeish with Tommy Sheridan
Tricia began her day by appearing in a live debate on Radio Scotland at 7.30 she said, " I shall be today highlighting how the poverty and deprivation in Glasgow East could be solved by a fraction of the money spent on illegal and unjust wars and the 100 billion Labour are spending on renewing Trident.I shall also point out that Scots troops are dying or being injured in large numbers as they make up one third of frontline troops.It is time we brought all the troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan."
GAIL SHERIDAN REINSTATED - BRITISH AIRWAYS DROP ALL CHARGES
After almost 5 months suspension from her job as a British Airways stewardess Gail Sheridan has today been reinstated and cleared of any theft and misconduct charges.
Gail had an unblemished record over her 23 year career with BA before being suspended on basic pay pending an investigation into theft and misconduct charges arising from a Lothian and Borders police decision to charge her with theft after removing a number of alcoholic minatures during an 8 hour raid and search of the Sheridan home on the 16th December last year. Gail Sheridan was subsequently charged with theft and perjury on Feb. 19th this year and suspended from her job on Feb. 22nd. The theft charge was dropped when Gail and husband Tommy appeared at Edinburgh high court to be charged with perjury on 27th March.
After a detailed and thorough investigation by BA over the last 5 months, with which Gail fully cooperated, the Company have now dismissed all charges against her and fully reinstated her in her senior purser role.
Gail Sheridan said today;
"I am obviously relieved to be reinstated to the job I have loved for the last 23 years. The relief is however tarnished with anger that I have had to endure the stress and shame of being accused of theft over that period. An accusation which was always malicious but without foundation from the start. Those who initially threw this muck at me should hold their heads in shame.
"I want to thank my family, friends, trade union representative, Tracy Jervis and solicitor, John Paul Mowberry, for being so supportive and helpful during this difficult time. I also want to thank the thousands of ordinary people and trade unionists who have expressed their solidarity with me throughout. Such solidarity has been uplifting and inspiring."
Gail attended a disciplinary hearing this morning in a Paisley hotel and was informed of her reinstatement after less than 10 minutes of the meeting starting.
Gail is a member of the cabin crew union BASSA which is part of UNITE.
Solidarity Launch Glasgow East Campaign
Glasgow Solidarity members have selected their candidate for the Glasgow East by-election on 24 July. Tricia McLeish, of the party's Shettleston branch, was appointed unopposed with the unianimous support of the Glasgow region of Scotland's largest socialist party.
Tricia said: "I am honoured to be selected as Solidarity's candidate. Living in the area and working for the council, I see the results of New Labour's failed agenda first hand. The SNP offer no answers for the people of the East end, just more of the same under a different flag. The East End will not be saved by shopping centes or by a Donald Trump. We need real jobs and real futures.
"Solidarity are AGAINST the renewal of trident, but FOR spending the billions on houses and pensioners instead. We stand AGAINST the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and FOR the withdrawal of Brirish and all other foreign troops."
Tricia McLeish & Tommy Sheridan
Profile - Tricia McLeish
Tricia McLeish is a founding member of Solidarity and has been an active socialist for over 20 years. She is 44, and works as a technical officer for Glasgow City Council's Land and Environmantal Services and was a Unison (and previously NALGO) shop steward in the council's housing department for 15 years.
Tricia was born, bred and still lives in Shettleston, the eldest of six children, all of whom still live in the East end of Glasgow, as do her parents. She was educated at St Andrews in Greenfield.
Tricia joined the Labour Party Young Socialists and then Militant in the early 1980's when she was on a youth opportunities scheme and since then has been at the forefront of many political campaigns in Scotland. After being suspended from the Labour Party for her involvement in the Anti-Poll Tax Federation, she went to be a founder member of The Scottish Socialist Alliance, the Scottish Socialist Party and then Solidarity. She is a member of the party's National Steering Committee and still an active trade unionist, leading campaigns against privatisation of services, most notably the back-door privatisation of housing stock through the GHA.
Terry Fields dies, aged 71
Former Labour MP Terry Fields died at his home in Liverpool on Saturday 28th June. Solidarity wish to express our deepest sympathy to his family and comrades. Co-Convenor Tommy Sheridan said:
"I am deeply saddened by this news. Terry was a wonderful man who inspired many to get involved in the fight for a fairer society. He will be missed by all of us."
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