ATUC Exec member and
Aberdeenshire UNISON Green Champion, Steve Gray joined climate campaigners who marched
through Edinburgh on Saturday 16 Sept to demand the UK and Scottish Governments
develop a plan for a fair and fast transition away from fossil fuels. 
Photo by Neil Hanna, Friends of the Earth
Here is the text of the speech he made at the event:
"Thank
you for the opportunity to march with you in solidarity for a Just Transition
for the Fossil Workers and their communities.
Since its founding in 1868 the ATUC has
organised and participated in many social justice and workplace campaigns at
local, national and international levels.
The
Scottish Government are conducting another consultation and its on the North
East Scotland Transition Fund. The people of the North East Scotland need in
person visits and meetings from the Scottish and UK Governments not online
consultations which most people are not even aware. These meetings need be with
a range of communities from Elgin to Fraserburgh to Aberdeen to Dundee.
The
people of Scotland need deeds not words. The cost of living crisis cuts deeply
here and failing to fairly fund Local Government is making the crisis worse.
When
Local Government workers go on strike in the coming weeks they are fighting not
just to pay their bills and feed their families but to save the services we all
rely on. Please support these workers!
They say cut back we say fight back.!
The increasingly climate induced Severe Storms
are causing tragic deaths and disruptions demonstrating that there is a clear
need to make our communities Climate Emergency resilient.– it’s up to all of us
to make this happen…
System
Change Not Climate Change!
The
key word is Invest!
When
Banks and Fossil Fuel Companies spend money its described as Investment.
When
the public sector funds retrofitting, community renewables, buses, parks
healthcare and schools its always described as Spending never Investing!
The Scottish and UK Governments need to
describe funding our public services as Investments not Spending.
The
ATUC, and its allies in the STUC support investing in a climate resilient just
transition for the Fossil Fuel workers and their home communities.
System
Change Not Climate Change.
Thank you for your support."