Aberdeen remembers - Workers' Memorial day 2016

Aberdeen remembered all those who have lost their lives, been injured or made ill at their work at a moving and well attended Workers’ Memorial Day service on 28th April.

Opening the ceremony at the Persley Walled Garden in Aberdeen, Kate Ramsden, President of Aberdeen Trades Union Council, extended a particular welcome and deepest condolences to the family and work colleagues of Ian Walker, the worker who lost his life in the construction of the third Don Crossing.

Kate said, “This will be a very poignant service as we mourn the deaths of three workers, including Ian, killed at their work in a three week period in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire earlier this year.

“In coming together today we mourn all those, like Ian, who have lost their lives doing their job.

 “But we also make a pledge to continue our fight for robust health and safety procedures, inspection and legislation to make sure no more workers are killed at their work and no other families have to grieve the loss of their loved ones.”

Following a minutes silence, Ian’s daughter Kirsty and his two sons, Andrew and David laid the wreath on behalf of the ATUC. Councillor Angela Taylor laid the wreath for Aberdeen City Council on behalf of the Lord Provost of the City.

Workers’ Memorial Day Service

Marischal College Lit for IWMD

Aberdeen Trades Union Council will commemorate Worker’s Memorial Day on 28th April at a service in Persley Walled Garden, Bridge of Don, gather at 12.30 for 1pm.

Kate Ramsden, ATUC President said, “The service will be particularly poignant this year as we remember a number of workers who have lost their lives at their work in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, including Ian Walker from Dundee, who lost his life in the construction of the third Don Crossing.”

Ian’s family will be attending and his son, Andrew will lay the wreath. We will also be joined by Ian’s work colleagues.

The purpose of Workers’ Memorial Day is to “Remember the dead, fight for the living.”

Kate added, “As we mourn all those who have tragically lost their lives doing their job, we will all, as trade unionists, politicians and employers, renew our commitment to fight for robust health and safety at work and a proper system of regulation to make sure that no other families have to grieve the loss of a loved one.”

Are you related to a Brigader from the Spanish Civil War? The STV would like to hear from you.

The STV's The People’s History show is doing a number of pieces on the Spanish Civil War and would like to interview brigaders' families for this show.

Ian Hendry of STV said, "I’m aware that the last Scottish veteran, Thomas Watters passed away in 2012 but I was wondering if there were any brigaders' family members that would be willing to be interviewed. 

"We would also use the content for our daily magazine show Live@Five."

If you are the relative of a brigader and interested in being interviewed you can contact Ian at Ian.Hendry@stv.tv

  

ATUC Annual Report 2015

Aberdeen Trades Union Council is pleased to announce the publication of our Annual Report for 2015, which is now available for download from this website.

The report was distributed at the STUC Conference at the beginning of this week and further hard copies will be available for delegates at the next ATUC meeting in May.

It's a huge amount of work to put together the annual report so a big thank you to everyone involved, including all the trade unions and other organisations who help to support the work of the ATUC throughout the year, and who support the production of the annual report by providing articles and adverts.

• Download ATUC Annual Report 2015
• Download ATUC Centre Photo Spread

UCU members in Aberdeen University win STUC Organising Award

The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has presented this year’s STUC Organising Award are the University and College Union (UCU) Aberdeen Branch.

The efforts of University and College Union (UCU) members at Aberdeen University to fight against compulsory redundancies, while growing trade union membership were recognised by the STUC at their Congress on Tuesday 19th April.

UCU received the STUC Organising Award for their work in developing trade union organisation and structures within the academic staff at Aberdeen University that have the left the branch better placed to resist attacks on their members and at the same time raise the profile of UCU within the local trade union movement.

Aberdeen May Day March & Rally 2016

The Aberdeen May Day March and Rally will be held on Saturday 30th April 2016.

Organised by Aberdeen Trades Union Council, the march will assemble at Rubislaw Terrace, Aberdeen from 11.00 am and the procession will march off at 11.30 am.

The procession will march along the whole length of Union St to the rally at the Castlegate, which is scheduled to commence at 12:15pm.

Affiliates and community groups are urged to come along with your banners and placards and join us in celebrating International Workers' Day.

• Click here for a poster 

Speakers are yet to be confirmed but will include trade unionists, politicians and community activists.

STUC 2016 - Arms to renewable is a win-win and STUC will develop plans for a Just Transition

The STUC General Council has committed to develop a credible, coherent and fully costed plan for an effective and Just Transition from arms industry jobs, including Trident renewal, to alternative occupations.

On this basis, Aberdeen and Dundee Trades Union Councils agreed to remit their composited motion to the General Council.

Earlier ATUC’s Kate Ramsden had condemned the arms trade in the UK which wreaks havoc on the lives of ordinary people – men, women and children, bombed or gunned down by weapons that we make in this country

“Remember the bombardment of Gaza in 2014?” asked Kate. “The devastation wrought by Israeli bombs and missiles whose component parts were made at the Raytheon factory in Fife.

STUC 2016 - Congress backs ATUC call to welcome refugees

Congress supported a call from Aberdeen Trades Union Council amongst others to support refugees and those seeking asylum is Scotland, and called for the UK and Scottish Government to welcome more refugees than currently planned.

Speaking on behalf of the ATUC, Kevin Hutchens focussed on the plight of refugees stranded on the borders of Europe. He told delegates that what is shown on TV is only a small part of the human tragedy that is taking place daily. Systems for receiving and dealing with people needing international protection are not working or absent.

STUC 2016 - Congress backs ATUC call to save HMRC offices and jobs

The STUC has backed a wide-ranging campaign to overturn HMRC office closure plans as part of its clear opposition to the blatant Tory austerity led agenda that underpins it.

Seconding a PCS led composite motion, Aberdeen Trade Union Council’s Kate Ramsden told Congress of the devastating impact that the closures will have. 

“18 locations will close across Scotland with the loss of over 2,500 jobs.  This is on top of other recent closures that saw all 281 HMRC public enquiry centres close in 2014.

“Since 2010 over 10,000 staff have lost their jobs in HMRC and many more have left of their own accord without being replaced due to the worsening terms and conditions.

“And since 2005 HMRC staffing levels have almost halved. So much for this government’s alleged commitment to dealing with tax evasion,” slammed Kate. 

Remember the dead, fight for the living - Aberdeen Workers' Memorial Service on Thursday 28th April 2016

We would like to invite ATUC delegates and friends to the annual Workers' Memorial Service which will be held on Thursday 28th April in the Persley Walled Garden, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen. Please gather at 12.30pm for a service at 1pm.
 
International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) takes place all over the world on 28 April each year.
Its purpose is two-fold. Firstly it is about not forgetting those who have died, been injured, or made ill by their work. Secondly it is about ensuring that this tragic loss and suffering are used to reinvigorate the campaign for healthier and safer work.

The campaign slogan is "Remember the dead, fight for the living."

In this time of austerity, it is ever more important to protect our Health and Safety legislation, which is constantly under attack.

This will be a particularly poignant service as we mourn the deaths of three workers in the local area who lost their lives in work related accidents in the past few months.

The service will last for approx 30mins.

Click here for a poster for the event.