They came in their thousands to send a message loud and clear to the bosses at Diageo – No job cuts to pay for corporate greed! The “Striding Forward Together” March and Rally in against the bosses at Diageo’s decision to close the Johnnie Walker plants in Kilmarnock and other operations in Hurlford and Port Dundas galvanised the community who responded in their thousands. 

Kilmarnock

Sunday 26th July

March starts 1pm from Howard Park

Rally 2.30pm Kay Park

Stop Diageo job cuts petition in Springburn

The ‘Keep Striding Forward’ march and rally will be held in Kilmarnock on Sunday 26 July as part of the Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock campaign.  The march will start from the Howard Park at 1pm where there will be musical entertainment from 12pm. The marchers will then head up John Finnie Street and under the arches at the railway station to Hill Street where they will march past the Johnnie Walker factory.

The march will then head to Witch Road, down Dean Lane onto Strawberrybank Road finishing at the Kay Park at approximately 2.30pm with a mass rally. 

Solidarity meeting after main rally;

 The Portman Hotel, Portland Road,

Kilmarnock KA1 2DL

Main Speakers: Solidarity Co-Convenor Rosemary Byrne and a Jonnie Walker worker.

For more information click on the campaign website here

A group of workers have occupied the Vestas plant on the Isle of Wight.

Their brave stand is in defence of 600 jobs under threat and to keep production going at almost the only British producer of wind turbines. The government says it plans to create a million “green jobs”. Meanwhile, in the real world, this wind turbine factory is being closed and Labour does nothing.

All 600 workers at the factory face redundancy. The factory is the largest employer on the island.

Rush messages of support to 07980 703115 and 07970 739921 and 07733 388888.

Email messages to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Solidarity would like to add it’s voice to those offering condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the firefighter Ewan Williamson who was killed whilst taking part in a life saving operation at a fire in an Edinburgh pub during the early hours of Sunday morning. 

At a news conference, Brian Alloway, Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Chief Officer gave a report of the incident at the Balmoral Pub in Dalry Road in Edinburgh; 

"Our crews on arrival were confronted with a very severe fire, and whilst tackling that fire, a breathing apparatus crew of two firefighters were injured by the collapse of an internal floor. Tragically and despite the best efforts of all his colleagues at the incident one of those firefighters lost his life."  

"Our service is a very close knit community and we are all absolutely devastated by this loss. The thoughts of every single member of this service are with the firefighter's family. This is a tragic day for us."  

Mr Allaway went on to confirm that residents rescued from properties above the blaze owed their lives to the bravery of the firefighter who died and his colleagues. 

The tragedy is a reminder that firefighters risk their lives day and daily during the course of their duties.  

Solidarity have called on the Crown Office to explain the millions of pounds of public money allocated to the pursuit of the partys' Co-Convenor, Tommy Sheridan.  Lothian and Borders Police have been investigating the case for nearly two years with, at times, dozens of officers working full-time.  Solidarity Press Spokesperson, Hugh Kerr, said:
 
"The question of why this investigation was launched, and the resources allocated to it, has never been answered.  This is a waste of public money and a distraction of Police resources that cannot be justified."
 
Sheridan and his partner Gail are due to appear at a preliminary hearing on Monday 13 July at the High Court in Edinburgh at 10.00am.  Kerr called on Solidarity members to join him in a show of solidarity at the court:
 
"All socialists, trade unionists and activists should rally against this attack on our comrades.  Tommy Sheridan has never failed to stand by the people in struggle and it's time for us to get behind him to end this politically motivated action."