getting involved – Unite CEC Branch

Unite reps march for a green future at COP26

This weekend Unite reps joined hundreds of thousands of other trade unionists, activists and citizens to demonstrate at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

Your branch was represented by reps braving the wet conditions to stand in solidarity and demand that the gathering world leaders take heed of the messages from the crowd and act now to stop climate change and protect life on our planet.

Gillian Foy, workplace rep, said

The Day of Action in Glasgow was a genuinely uplifting event. Despite the terrible weather, 100,000 people came came together to make common cause on the issue of climate justice, with similar events taking place worldwide.
It was brilliant to meet Unite members from different branches in Scotland as well as other trade unionists, and to march alongside a wide range of groups and individuals.
The diversity of participants and speakers was really inspiring and I think it’s vital that Unite continues to be active around environmental issues.

Climate and sustainability in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Council’s approach to the climate crisis is due to be published in the 2030 Climate Strategy on 30 November 2021, as discussed at a recent Policy and Sustainability Committee. The draft strategy outlines 7 priorities:

Training dates for 2018

The Unite Scotland training programme for 2018 is now online. The training courses offer the chance to

become a workplace rep — help your colleagues and make your workplace fairer
become health and safety rep — ensure that your bosses are doing what’s required to keep you safe from harm at work
learn some new skills for the different roles in the union branch, such as union learning rep or equalities rep
get specialist knowledge in key areas, such as pensions and mental health.

Edinburgh course dates are below.

Continue reading “Training dates for 2018”

Scrap the cap – actions and events this week

The public sector pay cap is on the agenda at a couple of event this week. Read about the events below and let us know in the comments if you’re coming along.

Pay up now petition

We would encourage everyone to sign UNISON’s petition calling on the UK Government to scrap the public sector pay cap.

In one week the petition has received more than 100,000 signatures, so please add yours to send the message to the Tories that the public will not stand for the continued attacks on public sector workers.

Pay up now rally in Edinburgh – 7 October

UNISON have organised a march and rally in Edinburgh this Saturday 7 October to protest the public sector pay cap. The march will meet on Johnstone Terrace, beside Edinburgh Castle, at 11:30am.

Read about Saturday’s pay up now rally on UNISON Scotland.

Jimmy Reid memorial lecture in Glasgow – 5 October

Tomorrow Thursday 5 October will see the Scottish Left Review host the fifth annual Jimmy Reid memorial lecture in Govan, Glasgow from 6pm. The lecture specifically invites public sector trade unionists along.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of PCS, is giving the lecture on ‘pay, people and power – the progressive case for public services’. The lecture will cover austerity, the public sector pay cap and a vision for the future of public services.

Read about and book tickets for the Jimmy Reid lecture at the Jimmy Reid Foundation.

Manchester protest and events against austerity

The People’s Assembly Against Austerity are hosting a series of events to coincide with the Tory party conference in Manchester on Saturday 30 September 2017, including a national demonstration on 1 October. Read about the events on the People’s Assembly site.

If you are interested in going along, let us know by speaking to your rep or commenting below. Unite Scotland sent a contigent along to the recent anti-austerity demo in London, so it would be great to gauge interest in going down to the Manchester events.

The past few years alone in Edinburgh have seen thousands of public sector jobs lost, services for communities and our most vulnerable cut, wages stagnate and outsourcing and privatisation put key services into the hands of profiteering companies.

Join us in Manchester and tell the Tories ‘no more cuts, no more austerity, no more attacks on workers’ rights or standard of living’.