Solidarity are standing trade unionist Neil Bell  as their candidate in the forthcoming Lochee by-election for Dundee City Council which takes place on November 22nd.

 
Neil is an active trade unionist and a member of the PCS trade union and was a Solidarity candidate in the May elections this year.  He has a long connection with the Lochee area having lived there since childhood, and is married with three children.  As well as his political work Neil plays an active role in the community including as an instructor in the Lochee Boys Brigade Company.

Jim Malone is a Dundee firefighter and Secretary of Tayside Fire Brigades Union and serves on the FBU’s Scottish Regional Committee.

Jim has a longstanding record as a campaigning trade unionist.  He says:

Solidarity have today come out in support of the 1000 workers from Grampian foods who today have taken part in strike action.

Many of the striking workers from the T&G union are based in Couper Angus and have taken to the picket lines in order to protect their pay and pensions, and the have received strong backing from other local trade unionists who head Solidarity’s North East list.

Jim Malone, who heads Solidarity’s North East regional list and is also FBU Taydide secretary said;

“Solidarity stands shoulder to shoulder with the striking workers of Grampian foods. We believe that they have taken the correct course of action and are totally justified in their stance in order to protect their pay and pension.”

Jim McFarlane, second on Solidarity’s North East and chair of Dundee City UNISON added;

“It is a disgrace that after 10 years of New Labour in power workers in their millions across the country are having their pensions attacked. We strongly urge the management at Grampian foods to reconsider their position.”

Solidarity has condemned the Labour Party for failing to commit to replacing the council tax in their new manifesto released yesterday. 

Labour have committed to halving the wastewater charges which it says will alleviate some  of the burden on the countries poorest, however Solidarity claim this small measure will have little impact on the overall bill that many face. 

Jim Malone, who heads Solidarity’s North East regional list said; “It is nothing new to learn that New Labour are offering the electorate a tiny bribe in the run up to an election, however what is really needed is not tinkering around the edges of the council tax, but to replace it with an income based system which takes account of people’s ability to pay. On top of this we propose scrapping all domestic water charges and replacing them with a levy on big business. Under our system, those earning under £10 000 per year wouldn’t pay a penny saving many pensioners and low paid workers a small fortune.”