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Thursday, 3 March 2022

Second Aberdeen protest against crippling cost of living rises at 1pm on Saturday 5 March outside Mariscal College

Aberdeen Trades Union Council is urging its delegates, affiliates and the the citizens of North East Scotland to join their second protest against spiralling cost of living rises.
It will be held this  Saturday 5th March at 1pm outside Marischal College, Aberdeen.

Click here for the Facebook event

This will be one of many protests being held across the country, as rising costs of food, fuel and other necessities already begin to bite, with local food banks experiencing significant increases in demand.

Tommy Campbell, ATUC retired union member delegate and protest organiser said: “ Yet again it is ordinary working people paying
the price, whilst the energy companies make massive profits for their rich  shareholders. Once again it is the low paid and the poorest in our communities, older people and those with disabilities, that will be hardest hit" 

Mr Campbell continued “ It’s just not good enough and  Instead of punishing the very people who have been on the frontline during the Covid  pandemic, keeping our country afloat, we should be making the richest companies pay their fair share, with a freeze on energy prices and a windfall tax on energy companies’ massive profits."

ATUC member Simon Watson added, “How is it that in the sixth richest country in the world, a country where there are now 174 billionaires, and they added £100 billion pounds to their wealth last year, kids are going to school and asking for food because they are hungry in the morning, and older people are sat shivering with the heating off because they can’t afford it?

“Aberdeen is sometimes seen as a wealthy city.  But even before the pandemic, 30,000 food parcels a year were being distributed from foodbanks in Aberdeen  City and throughout Aberdeenshire.  

"Aberdeen has more households than the Scottish average with financial problems, or in deep financial trouble.  A quarter of households are in fuel poverty, and half of those are in extreme fuel poverty.  

"Deprivation has been rising,” warned Simon, calling for people to come out and give a clear message to our politicians that enough is enough.”