Invite to an evening of music, poetry and good craic on Sat 28th May

ATUC sends solidarity to UCU Scotland members on their action on pay

The ATUC sends our solidarity and best wishes to UCU members in higher education institutions in Scotland who will be taking part in industrial action in the form of two strike days on Wednesday and Thursday 25-26 May 2016.     

The strike relates to the current dispute on the national pay claim and the UCU would wish to advise of the following background to the dispute.

Since 2009, staff in higher education institutions in the UK have suffered a 14.5% real terms pay cut set against the cost of living.  Over the same period we have seen year on year above inflation pay increases for many university principals, with increases this year of up to 15%.  The employers’ initial offer of 1% for staff was rejected by UCU and their improved offer, adding a miserly 0.1%, is, in our view, derisory.    Our pay claim also asks employers to work with campus unions to tackle the gender pay gap in higher education and to reduce the proportion of staff on casual and zero-hour contracts. The employers are refusing to engage with campus unions collectively on these matters.

Unite Night Aberdeen Sat 14th May 2016 7pm at O'Neill's - music, entertainment and political awareness

Get along if you can or encourage the young people in your family to get along to Unite Night Aberdeen on Saturday 14th May 7-11pm at O'Neill's, 9-10 Back Wynd, Aberdeen AB10 1JN.

A night of music and entertainment to raise awareness about the trade union movement and why it's beneficial to young people.


Click here for more information on the Facebook Page


£3.00 (Free to Unite members)

Line-up:

• Elijah Fynmore
  Folk and rock tunes with an occasional political turn.
  

• Rico Strokes
  One man and his guitar.
  

• Steady eyes
  Indy folk duo who sing about feelings and stuff.
  

• Green beers
  Aberdeen folk punk duo who have stepped in last minute to rescue us as unfortunately The Mamertines have had to pull out of this gig due to unforeseen issues.

Please come along to the next meeting of the ATUC on Wed 4th May

The next meeting of Aberdeen Trades Union Council will be held on Wednesday 4th May at 7.30pm at John Londragan House, 22a Adelphi, Aberdeen.

There is the usual packed agenda and the meeting will begin with a presentation from Renee Slater on the Aberdeen Festival of Politics.

All affiliates and associates are welcome to attend. The agenda and minutes of the last meeting will be circulated soon.

Aberdeen May Day - Collective action in the struggle against inequality and injustice around the world

Hundreds of trade unionists, community activists and politicians, four beds and three dogs joined the Aberdeen May Day March on Saturday 30^th April, calling for workers' rights around the world.

It also called for the ARI Trauma Centre to stay open for the people of the North East of Scotland.

The march was led off once again by the uplifting beats of the Guarana Drummers, stopping at regular intervals to lead the marchers in a chant of “Save our NHS” – a reference to the campaign to save the trauma centre in the North East of Scotland.

Four UNISON members and activists representing  the Grampian Health branch had dressed up as beds to highlight the campaign to ensure that Aberdeen Royal Infirmary can keep its trauma centre for the people of the North East of Scotland.

Humphrey the basset hound brought health activist Sandra-Dee Masson on the march with him, where he was joined by two other politically active dogs!

Passersby once again stopped to watch and wave as the colourful procession of banners, placards and flags marched by on its exuberant way down the whole of Union Street to the rally in the Castlegate.