Working out where we go from here The outcome of the general election last year means Scotland enters yet another critical period in its modern history and its continuing search for a just and decent social democratic society. Though politics is about much more than just constitutional options, it is becoming increasingly clear to many […]
It won’t be ‘business as usual’ as Rozanne Foyer leads the STUC to get its ‘business’ done I begin my role as General Secretary in challenging times. The rise of right-wing populism across the developed world is terrifying. But it is a symptom of the distrust that many people have in our economic and political […]
Mike Kirby surveys the terrain on which the battle to defend public services and their workers will be fought The famous adage, originating from Marx (Karl not Groucho) that ’we make our own history but not in circumstances of our own choosing’ retains its relevance today. Few, indeed, are the trade unionists who would have […]
Pat Rafferty lays out what governments can do but only if they are pushed to do so Scotland is being hit with job losses, factory closures and firms going bust. Unite has been involved in a long line of fights to save jobs including the Caley rail depot, Michelin (Dundee), RBS branches, Jamie Oliver restaurants […]
Stewart Forrest outlines what Usdaw is doing to fight the jobs and violence crisis in retail Usdaw is one of Scotland’s largest unions, with members mainly working in retail. We also have significant membership within road transport, distribution, food manufacturing and call centre operations. In recent years, the retail sector crisis has devastated many high […]
Cat Boyd shows how the PCS union is preparing to fight further austerity Austerity has done more to reshape Britain than any policy programme since Thatcher. Yet by last December’s election, barely a single politician was speaking up in its defence. Labour built its campaign on a promise to end it. The SNP boasted of […]
Denise Christie shows how the FBU is fighting back and calls for coordinated action to support sister unions There have been many articles written since the crushing defeat for our movement at the General Election. Trade unionists pounded the street and campaigned for the most radical and progressive manifesto we have seen in decades from […]
Mary Senior does the maths and comes up with the right answers in the fight for fair pay and pensions The University and College Union (UCU) is in the midst of two bitter industrial disputes: the first on the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension, a long running battle to defend the pension scheme from further […]
Mick Cash lays out the reasons for the Tories’ new assault on striking and how to beat it In the run up to the 2019 General Election, the Conservatives, apparently not satisfied with the draconian restrictions imposed by their Trade Union Act 2016, made clear their intention to further curtail the right of transport workers […]
Andy Hogg says while the experience in Scotland has been different there is still the need for basic rights There are few unions that understand more the impact of losing the right to strike than the POA. There are, perhaps, even fewer who can point to the chasm of disadvantage that persists in an industrial […]