Edinburgh welcomes Denis Goldberg to the Edinburgh World Justice Festival 2013

Come and be inspired by Denis Goldberg and many others during Edinburgh World Justice Festival - a fortnight's programme of events that will inform you, challenge you, encourage you, network you and take you on a walk around scandalous Edinburgh.

     Denis Goldberg, who was sentenced at the same time as Nelson Mandela for his part in the struggle against apartheid, will be the keynote speaker at the opening event 'World Justice and Austerity' on 12th October, from 11am at the Grassmarket Centre, 86 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QA.

   This will be followed by an exciting programme of events from 12th - 26th October which will introduce you to the ideas and organisations working for a fair and just world. There will be free events on topics as diverse as Burma's transition to democracy, women and war in Iraq and Afghanistan, scandals in global finance, radical voices, the arms trade and people's health.
   For full details to go www.ewjf.org.uk - you can also find us (and like us!) on facebook and follow on twitter @edworldjustice   See below for more about Denis Goldberg.

UNISON deplores SDL festival march

UNISON is aghast at the decision of the City of Edinburgh Council to grant permission for a far-right organisation, The Scottish Defence League, to march through the streets of our capital city on Saturday.

It is an absolutely abhorrent decision, the effects of which are amplified by the timing of the march - right in the middle of the Festival. It beggars belief that whilst on one hand we welcome millions of people of different race, colour, sexual orientation and religion to our city whilst on the other hand we allow a far right organisation that prejudices against the very people to which we extend our hospitality.

The SDL would have us believe that they march for improved rights for our squaddies. A noble calling that would, if that were the only reason for the march, would attract the support of many. In fact, UNISON represents many men and women in their day jobs who give their services to the armed forces territorial and reserves. The reality of the situation, however, is much darker and a lot less savoury.

The SDL, through many of their far-right blogs and social media space, have said that their march intends to "highlight islamic problems" such as terrorism and child grooming. I need only draw attention to Anders Brevik, the IRA, UVF and ETA to show that any insinuation of terrorism being an "islamic" problem is nonsense. For child grooming, I would draw attention to the recent cases of Jimmy Saville, Stuart Hall and also to the horrific case of Ian Huntly.

It is unacceptable that any vile message of hate towards any section of society is allowed to take place on our streets. It is especially abhorrent in the middle of an international and multicultural festival.

UNISON would therefore urge any person wishes to oppose this disgraceful march to attend a counter demonstration that starts at 12pm on the 17th August in Chambers Street.

We can only hope that such a catastrophic failure in common sense does not take place in the future.

UNISON members reflect the wide diversity of cultures in our society. As such our banner will be proudly at the counter-demonstration.  We hope to see you there.

UNISON statement on Edinburgh Chief Exec's second job

UNISON trusts that the decision to allow its Chief Executive Sue Bruce to take up a second job with an energy company will herald a new approach by the council to all of its staff.

In particular, we look forward to a more sympathetic approach to time off for staff doing unpaid trade union duties, and to staff on low pay who have no choice except to take a second job just to make ends meet.

When front line staff are pushed to the limit covering for staff shortages, it is not a good message that the Chief Executive has enough time to take on a second job.

Justifications that this will help bring lessons from the private sector will not wash with UNISON members. They see how privatised services up and down the country cut costs by cutting wages and quality of service. That is efficient for shareholders but not for those who rely on the services.

Public services have little to learn from the private sector but a lot to learn from their own employees who deliver the services. That is where the Chief Executive's energies should be channeled.

The Labour party and trade union link

From Dave Prentis' Blog: UNISON has always given its members the choice of opting in to its affiliated political fund, that gives them a say in the democratic processes of the Labour Party, or of opting in to the General Political Fund, independent of any political party. Our processes are democratic and transparent. UNISON has never operated the arrangement whereby we pay Labour Party membership fees for new members.

Trade unions are a vital and intrinsic part of the Labour Party and, together, we have helped ordinary working men and women have a say in the democratic processes of this country and a say in Labour Party policy.

However, UNISON believes that the current debate about the relationship between Labour and the unions, played out so publicly in the media, is an unforgiveable diversion from the real issues that this country faces.

There are 2.5 million people out of work, young people without a future, families having to rely on food banks and payday loan sharks to make ends meet, and massive cuts to our public services. And our members have seen the value of their pay cut by up to 16% as a result of years of pay freezes.

Those are the issues that matter to people. UNISON will continue to fight to protect and defend its members from attack and to help the most vulnerable in our society. We expect the Labour Party to do the same.

See also http://www.unison.org.uk/content/conBlogPost/25

UNISON Scotland: Union announces Scotland wide strike ballot of council workers

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See The Happy Lands this week

@thehappylands The Happy Lands film is showing at the Cameo in Edinburgh on Wed 15 May. Details for the Cameo Edinburgh are here. See the Happy Lands facebook page here.
  The people of Fife capture the true drama of the 1926 General Strike - the struggles, the hardship, and ultimately the triumph - in this epic feature film. A definitive moment in national history, the film tells the real personal stories of their forebears: the struggles, the hardship, and ultimately the triumph of the indomitable human spirit.
@thehappylands See more at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/happylands/index.html

Remember the dead. Fight for the living

#IWMD13 Edinburgh Workers Memorial Day: In the month that saw hundreds of workers killed and thousands injured in Dhaka and 14 killed and hundreds injured in Texas, trade unionists, families and councillors gathered on IWMD to remember those who have died due to injury or ill health caused by work, and to refresh our resolve to fight for safe and healthy working conditions in Scotland and throughout the world.