Rosemary Byrne MSP has been selected as top of Solidarity’s list of candidates for South of Scotland region for the Scottish Elections in May. And the Solidarity Co-Convenor now looks likely to return to Holyrood following poll results putting the new part on over 5%, the same level of votes that got her elected in 2003.
Speaking from her Constituency meeting in Irvine following the South of Scotland selection meeting Rosemary said:
“I am honoured to head such a strong list of candidates for Solidarity into the elections. We will be taking our fight to every corner of this vast region and we have a candidate list that reflects our wide activist base in the South.
“The poll results are encouraging, and I hope that the working class people of the region give me another four years to fight on their behalf.”
Full South of Scotland Regional List for Solidarity: 1) Rosemary Byrne (Irvine & District). 2) Graeme McIver (Borders). 3) Jim Monaghan (Cumnock/Coalfields). 4) Sarah McTavish (Clydesdale/Coalfields). 5) Lesley McIver (Borders). 6) John Dennis (Dumfries and Galloway). 7) Danny McGregor (Irvine & District). 8) Nan Williamson (South Ayrshire). 9) Graeme Cumming (South Ayrshire). 10) Gary Galbraith (East Lothian).
Sheridan Uncovers PFI "black market"
Solidarity MSP Tommy Sheridan has uncovered what he has called a "black market" in PFI hospitals. Last year, the Royal Bank of Scotland sold it's share in Consort Healthcare to Balfour Beatty.
Consort won the original contract for the PFI at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The original make-up of the PFI consortium was 15% by Morrison Construction with the remainder held equally by RBS and Balfour Beatty. Now the Balfour Beatty has increased it's share to 73.9%, with the balance owned by Infrastructure Investors, a finance company described as Britain's largest equity fund in the secondary PFI market.
The sale was hidden by commericial confidentiality and only parliamentary questions by Solidarity's Co-Convenor led to the information coming out. The Royal Bank refuse to comment on how much profit was made from the sale. Tommy said:
"This shows that our hospitals are being bought and sold like commodities on the black market, with no public veto or rights of access to information. In the long run the public will have to foot the bill.
"I will be laying further questions and motions on this, demanding how much money the Royal Bank has made and insisting that any profits made in these deals are returned to the NHS."
Solidarity on Track for Seven Seats in May
Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement could be on course to return an MSP in seven of Scotland’s electoral regions according to research commissioned by the party and carried out by TNS System Three.
The poll asked if people would be likely to vote for Solidarity knowing that it was the party founded by Tommy Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne, following indications that recent less favourable poll results were a result of the public still associating Sheridan and Byrne with the SSP.
The results showed that 7% of voters across Scotland would be “quite likely” or “very likely” to vote for Solidarity on May 03rd. This is higher than the percentage that took the SSP, Sheridan’s previous party, to six seats in 2003. In most regions 5% or more of the vote could deliver a seat for the new party. Solidarity Co-Convenor, Tommy Sheridan said:
“This is great news and gives us the boost we need with three months to go until the election. We are on course to return MSPs across Scotland and will be working flat out to ensure a socialist voice in every region and every local authority.”
In Sheridan’s regional constituency of Glasgow, 10% of respondents claim to be “likely” to vote Solidarity, the party’s strongest region is the West of Scotland where support is “quite likely” to be 14% which could give Solidarity two MSPs in that region.
Breakdown of those likely to vote for Solidarity by region: Glasgow 10%; West of Scotland 14%; Central 7% South of Scotland 5%; Highlands and Islands 6% Lothians 8%; North East 3%; Mid Scotland and Fife 6%
Lynn Sheridan Calls for Action Against Labour Council Leader
Central Region Solidarity candidate, Lynn Sheridan has called for tough action against North Lanarkshire Council Labour leader Jim McCabe for breaking the law on the smoking ban and his homophobic attitudes. This stems from his interview in the current Holyrood magazine (published today) where he is interviewed by Jacqi Kelly and smoked throughout the interview. Lynn said:
"Jim McCabe exhibits all the worse attitudes of Labour, firstly he blatantly breaks the smoking law in his office, when he as leader of the Council is meant to give an example to his staff and the citizens of North Lanarkshire. Secondly he exhibits homophobic attitudes over his attitude to same sex adoption, a measure brought in by his party in Edinburgh and London. I suggest Jim McCabe begins by apologising to the staff and people of North Lanarkshire and then Jack McConnell should rap his knuckles and send him for some counseling and education for his reactionary attitudes. We may pass new laws, but attitudes like his show we have a long way to go in implementing them."
Central Solidarity selected their regional list for the Scottish Elections in May last week and Lynn heads a strong list of candidates. The former soldier who is now a lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University was chosen top, ahead of former Labour MEP Hugh Kerr, the parliamentary press officer for Solidarity’s MSPs, in second.
Central Scotland Regional List:
1. Lynn Sheridan. 2. Hugh Kerr. 3. Gena Mitchell. 4. Gordon Walker. 5. Anna Lang. 6. Ray Gunnion. 7. Shareen Blackall.
BA Cabin Crew in Overwhelming Vote for Strike Action
An overwhelming vote by British Airways cabin crew to strike over management by imposition and the breakdown of respect and industrial relations was confirmed this morning by the Transport and General Workers Union.
8,132 voted for strike action with only 330 against in a postal ballot which had a turnout of 80%. That means 96.1% voted to strike.
The T&G negotiators will meet with senior BA managers tomorrow (16th January). The union said the cabin crew's concerns, which include issues over the implementation of sickness absence policies as well as pay grading and on board staffing and responsibility levels, had built up over the last two years but had failed to be addressed properly by the company's senior management.
Solidarity MSP Tommy Sheridan called for support for the planned strike action by BA cabin crew. The Solidarity Co-Convenor, whose wife Gail is a BA worker said:
“As BA profits grow, the conditions of hard pressed cabin crew get worse. These are loyal workers who have put up with a lot over the years yet management impose changes that ultimately lead to less money for more work. BA have refused to consult on many of these changes and strike action is the only option left. Gail is now facing the prospect of industrial action when she returns to work next month following maternity leave.”
The T&G negotiators will meet with senior BA managers tomorrow (16th January). The union said the cabin crew's concerns, which include issues over the implementation of sickness absence policies as well as pay grading and on board staffing and responsibility levels, had built up over the last two years but had failed to be addressed properly by the company's senior management.
Jim Malone Pledges 100% Solidarity with NCR Workers
Solidarity today accused global corporate giant NCR of ripping the heart out of Dundee by announcing it is to axe 650 jobs. In an act of scandalous profiteering NCR are axing these jobs and moving production to Hungary where they are paying workers lower wages.
Dundee Solidarity spokesperson Jim McFarlane said: “For decades Dundee workers have produced untold millions in pounds in profit for NCR. There is hardly a family in the city who have not had a family member who has worked in NCR at some time. This announcement is a disgrace, it is an example of corporate vandalism and underlines that the policy of NCR is nothing less than the “race to the bottom.” i.e. moving production away from higher wage economies to lower paid sectors of the world to boost profits.”
Jim Malone a leading trades unionist in Dundee who is heading up Solidarity’s list for the Scottish parliament elections in May said: “Workers in Dundee have been treated disgracefully. Thousands upon thousands of people in the city will be devastated by this announcement. Solidarity pledges 100% support to NCR workers and trade unionists in fighting this scandal and campaigning to keep the jobs in Dundee. We will support workers in taking action including strike action to save their jobs and livelihoods.”
Tommy Sheridan MSP said today: “This is capitalist globalisation at its most brutal. A highly profitable operation, NCR, opens a factory in Hungary to exploit the opportunity to drive down wages and boost their profitability. They claim that no worker in Dundee will be affected then they turn around and announce the axing of 650 jobs. It is a scandal. Solidarity demands that NCR maintains the jobs in Dundee. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with the workers of NCR in Dundee in their battle against this corporate madness.”
Sheridan Tops Glasgow List
Tommy Sheridan MSP has been confirmed as the top candidate in Solidarity's Glasgow regional list for the Scottish Elections in May.
And the party's Co-Convenor, twice before elected by the people of Glasgow in 1999 and 2003, is hoping to be joined in Holyrood by anti-war activist Angela McCormick, number two on the list.
Speaking after the selection meeting in Glasgow tonight, Sheridan said:
"Solidarity are the only credible left alternative for voters in May. Our regional list reflects the fact that we attract the very best, principled activists and trade unionists."
Angela McCormick, a teacher, was one of the main organisers of last year's G8 protests. She is a leading member of the Stop the War Coalition in Scotland. Third placed on the list is Ruth Black, a former journalist and high profile campaigner on LGBT rights. Tricia Mcleish, a local government worker from Shettleston and UNISON activist is fourth.
Full Regional candidate list for Glasgow Solidarity:
1. Tommy Sheridan. 2. Angela McCormick. 3. Ruth Black. 4. Tricia Mcleish. 5. Irene Lang. 6. Graham Campbell. 7. Brian Smith.
Solidarity Announce Lothians Candidates
Solidarity Scotland’s Socialist Movement have selected their list for the Lothians region in this year’s Scottish election.
Leading Anti-War campaigner Pat Smith tops the list, confirmed tonight at an all members meeting of Lothians Solidarity. Pat has been active in socialist politics for 25 years and is on the National Steering Committee of the Stop the War Coalition.
Pat Smith said, after the meeting:
“I am proud to be selected to stand as a candidate under the banner of Solidarity, the only principled socialist alternative in Scotland.”
Leading Trade Unionist Willie Black is second on the list. A senior shop steward at Scottish Power, he is also on the National Management Committee of AMICUS. Willie, is also an anti-war activist and last year was part of the organising committee for the G8 protests. Respected activist in the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Vanessa Fuertes, is third.
Tommy Sheridan MSP, Co-Convenor of Solidarity, welcomed the news of the list selection:
“ Solidarity are presenting the public with a clear choice of respected activists with a track record. Pat Smith will make an excellent Solidarity MSP in May. Solidarity’s electoral lists are bringing together some of the most principled, experienced campaigners and trade unionists in the country.”
Last month, FBU official Jim Malone was selected top of Solidarity’s list for the North East region. The other regions are still to decide on their lists of candidates.
Solidarity MSPs Join Faslane Protest
Solidarity Co-Convenors Tommy Sheridan MSP and Rosemary Byrne MSP will join elected representatives from across the UK and Europe in protesting at the Faslane Nuclear Base today.
As part of the Faslane 365 year-long protest, MSPs, MPs, AMs from the Welsh assembly and representatives from Netherlands and Italy will come together to blockade the site of illegal weapons of mass destruction.
Sheridan and Byrne will be at the base from 10.00 a.m. and hope that the protest by elected representatives will encourage others to get along throughout the year.South of Scotland MSP Rosemary Byrne said:
“Faslane is an affront to Scotland while we preach to other countries about the dangers of having nuclear weapons we have one the world’s most dangerous nuclear arsenals within a few miles our largest city.Faslane 365 runs until the end of September, everyone who opposes these brutal weapons should get along at least once for a day.”
Tommy Sheridan, Solidarity MSP for Glasgow, declared the trident missiles held at Faslane and Coulport “illegal” and questioned the reported costs of the planned Trident replacement:
“We are breaking international law and breaching the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by, not only having these weapons, but actively seeking to upgrade them and continue to threaten the world with them.The true cost of decommissioning the current missiles, replacing them, and maintaining them for 30 years is £76 billion.This money would be better spent on pensions, student grants and a decent minimum wage for hard pressed families.”
Tommy Sheridan Calls for Yes Vote in PCS Ballot
Solidarity Co-Convenor Tommy Sheridan MSP is calling for all members of the Public and Commercial Sevices Union (PCS) to back industrial action and vote yes on both questions in the ballot.
The go ahead to ballot over 280,000 members in over 200 government departments, agencies and non departmental public bodies comes as key services continue to suffer as a result of the government’s drive to cut 100,000 civil and public service jobs, the use of consultants spirals out of control and staff face below inflation pay offers. With the first compulsory redundancies already announced in the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) the union fears that more compulsory redundancies in greater numbers will occur elsewhere in the civil service.
The ballot also follows plans drawn up by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) which signal sweeping office closures and up to a further 12,500 job cuts, on top of a drive already aimed at cutting 12,500 jobs. The union believes additional job cuts above those already planned in other departments could follow as a number of government departments have their budgets cuts by 15% over the period 2008 to 2011.
The Glasgow MSP will make the call during his weekly radio show Sunday Morning with Citizen Tommy on Talk107 where he will be joined in the studio by PCS President Janice Godrich.
Tommy Sheridan said:
"Janice is appearing on the show to make the case for industrial action. Recently we have seen how a united workforce can force this government to rethink their plans. However, the drive towards privatisation and cutbacks from Gordon Brown and New Labour is relentless and industrial action is necessary at this stage, in my opinion. The recent compulsory redundancies leave the union members with no option other than to fight back."
Solidarity, Scotland's Socialist Movement are fully behind the yes vote and play a key role, among other left comrades, in the PCS union. PCS President Janice Godrich is a member of Solidarity as are NEC members Alan Brown, Cheryl Gedling and Danny Williamson.
The PCS Ballot, Trident and other issues will be discussed on the show which is broadcast to Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife from 10.00am on Sunday mornings. Those outside this area can listen live at www.talk107.co.uk listeners can call into contribute to the show on 08454 107 107 email to
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