Cuba and Qatar - a meeting dilemma

This Thursday (the 18 June) delivers a particular dilemma for those interested in campaigning on international issues. Two significant topics are to be aired at clashing meetings in different parts of Glasgow. Hopefully this variety will be fully exploited by the many comrades who are currently taking part in the UNISON conference in the city, as well as interested weegies.

At the STUC Centre in Woodlands Road at 7.00pm, the Scottish Cuba Solidarity Campaign hosts

internationally renowned Cuba expert - Dr Stephen Wilkinson, who is in town to explain the significance of the Obama administration's thaw towards the island, and why it is too soon to celebrate a new era just yet! As Churchill once said of a different struggle - 'It is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. It is perhaps, the end of the beginning."

Stephen Wilkinson first visited Cuba in 1986 and has been traveling to and writing about the island ever since.  Now the Chairman of the International Institute for the Study of Cuba based in the UK, Stephen has a PhD on the subject of Cuban literature. He has written numerous articles on such questions as the history of European and US - Cuba relations, Cuban attitudes and policy towards homosexuals and the nature of the Cuban state. He blogs at The Cuba Bug. 

However, if the future of a sun-soaked land of socialism, international solidarity and health and educational advances doesn't float your boat, then another, less happy, sunny country is also attracting (less positive) coverage. The position of workers in Qatar employed in constructing the infrastructure needed to stage the forthcoming football World Cup has moved centre stage. 

The Playfair Qatar campaign intends to build on that profile to explain why pressure on authorities there needs to be increased. While UNISON's conference will no doubt address the many problems faced by Trade Unions organising in Cameron's Britain, the medieval labour conditions, and flouting of basic health and safety standards in Qatar have led to many workers' deaths. The

meeting is at UNISON's Scottish Office at 14, W Campbell Street, G2 6RX, also at 7.00pm. Speakers are Philippe Gousenbourger – ITUC-CSI International Trade Union Confederation; Abdes Ouaddou – Moroccan International Footballer, victim of Qatar’s Kafala system; Helen Martin – STUC and Michael Connarty – Author of Report on the Reform of Football Governance to Council of Europe. Chair – Eileen Dinning, UNISON & Show Racism the Red Card


Of course, in the UK workers can elect reps to ensure Health and Safety rules are followed, but even

Robert addresses demo outside SECC

here that doesn't mean employers are all sweetness and light. UNISON Health and Safety Rep, Robert O'Donnell was recently sacked by managers at the SECC - the very venue where the union is holding its UK Conference! 

Despite being 91% owned by Glasgow City Council, the SECC has never recognised UNISON for its own workforce. Surely a trait closer to management practices in Qatar than the UK. No doubt the sole Glasgow Councillor on the SECC Board - Cllr Graeme Hendry - will soon be putting forward the case for a more progressive treatment of his own union's representatives.

Stars and family gather in Glasgow to celebrate life of Tony Benn

Excitement is building ahead of the range of events arranged to celebrate the life of Tony Benn next weekend. Two major concerts and a couple of discussion groups are planned for Sunday 30 November in Glasgow’s Mitchell Theatre. The events will run from the afternoon into the evening, culminating in a grand concert, with the music curated by singer-songwriter Rab Noakes, and starring Squeeze’s Chris Difford, and Love and Money’s James Grant amongst a galaxy of other talent. Another appearance will be by Benn’s granddaughter, Emily, herself a political activist and Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate.

Rab Noakes said “It’s appropriate that a celebration of the life and work of Tony Benn should be based around music and song. He himself took part in many performances where his own writings were combined and interwoven with songs.”

And Tony Benn’s co-star in many of these performances – including Glastonbury  - legendary folk singer Roy Bailey will also sing. Other performers will be, the doyen of political singers, Arthur Johnstone, Alastair McDonald, Sheena Wellington, and harmonicist extraordinaire, Fraser Speirs. Broadening the musical diversity is Edinburgh-based rapper, NRNXPO’s Qyeen and comedy compere Susan Morrison will try and keep it all in order!

The evening concert will be preceded by a poetry, performance and presentation concert at 4.30pm.

This features poet Tom Leonard, performance artists Attila the Stockbroker and Elvis McGonagall, compered by Bruce Morton.

In addition to singing, Roy Bailey will take part in a discussion about Tony Benn, Music and Politics to kick off the day, and that will be followed by a discussion on peace and nuclear weapons led by CND activists, Stephen Griffiths and Arthur West.

Jim Lister, of organisers FairPley said “We have had to rearrange this day from the Concert Hall to the Mitchell, so we can use the fact that all the venues are in close proximity as we have sharp timetables to meet. That means it may well sell out sooner, so we advise everyone to get their tickets quickly.”

The day’s events have been made possible by TU sponsors; Aslef, GMB, UNISON, Unite the union and PCS. The original idea came from Neil Findlay MSP.

Tickets for these events are available from the GCH box office on 0141 353 8000 or http://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/events/tony-benn-a-celebration-concert/

Emily Benn accepts invite to speak at Glasgow celebration

Emily Benn, the granddaughter of former parliamentarian and campaigner Tony Benn, has agreed to speak at November’s Glasgow celebration of the politician’s life, organisers have announced.

She will speak as part of the major concert organised for 30 November. the culminating event in a day also involving a spoken word event, and series of workshops, all in Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall.

Neil Findlay MSP from the organising committee welcomed her commitment, and said "It was always important to the organisers that the Benn family supported this event. We are delighted to have that support, and especially delighted that Emily is able to be present."

Emily Benn

Emily Benn said "I am really pleased to be able to attend and say a few words about my grandfather. A proud half-Scotsman, he loved attending public meetings across the country, I know the public support meant a great deal to him. I'm looking forward to coming to Glasgow to pay tribute to him."

Emily Benn daughter of Tony's eldest son Stephen, works in the City of London and is a Labour councillor in the London Borough of Croydon. She was recently selected as the Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Croydon South in the forthcoming Westminster Elections.

The event to celebrate the life and work of Tony Benn is being sponsored by four main Scottish Trade Unions - Aslef, GMB, UNISON and Unite the union and also supported by PCS. It involves a number of workshops, a spoken word event, and a major concert organised by FairPley. 

Rab Noakes

The concert is being curated by singer-songwriter, Rab Noakes, and will also star Chris Difford of Squeeze, folk legend Roy Bailey, Karen Matheson and Donald Shaw of Capercailie, James Grant, Political song doyen Arthur Johnstone, Alastair McDonald and Sheena Wellington. In addition a new voice is NRNXPO's Qyeen - adding hip hop to the mix. It'll be compered by Susan Morrrison and Dave Anderson

The Spoken Word event (separate ticket or as part of a 'day ticket') is compered by Bruce Morton, and currently features Tom Leonard, Juliet Cadzow, and the impressively named performance poet, Elvis McGonagall. 

Workshops will also be available to discuss topics close to Tony's heart. Not finally fixed, but likely to include, folk music and peace campaigning amongst others.

Tickets for these events are available from the GRCH box office on 0141 353 8000 or http://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/events/tony-benn-a-celebration-concert/

Tony Benn’s life and work to be celebrated in Glasgow

The release below went out to a wide range of media yesterday. The Herald picked up the story and

Tony Benn at 2011's UCS 40 anniversary

printed it here. This is the full release. Watch out for further announcements as other guests are added to the list!

A major Scottish celebration of the life of Tony Benn was announced today (Monday 22). Taking place in Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall on November 30 this year, the plan is for a series of events through the afternoon culminating in a substantial concert in the evening.

Rab Noakes

Singer songwriter Rab Noakes has agreed to curate the concert which will also feature Chris Difford of Squeeze, folk legend Roy Bailey, Karen Matheson, Donald Shaw, James Grant, Arthur Johnstone, and Alastair McDonald . Also planned is a spoken word event in the afternoon, along with discussion workshops on topics close to Tony’s heart

Neil Findlay MSP from the group set up to support and promote this event, said  “A number of our major trade unions felt it was important that a campaigner like Tony, who had strong links with Scotland, from UCS up to the present day, should be recognised and remembered here. We’re delighted to have the support of the Benn family for the event.”

The day is being supported by Aslef, GMB, UNISON and Unite in Scotland, who have commissioned FairPley – the people who organised Tony Benn’s sellout appearance at Celtic Connections in 2013 – to produce the show.

Stephen Wright, one of the directors of FairPley, said  “It was a real privilege to organise Tony’s appearances in Scotland over the last few years, at the Fringe, Celtic Connections and the UCS 40^th anniversary celebrations. We’re delighted to be involved in this major event to mark Tony’s life and legacy.”

Further addition to the line-up will be announced as they happen, but advance tickets have now gone on sale at - http://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/events/tony-benn-a-celebration-concert/

It's Boyling Point in Glasgow!

Anyone who woke up yesterday to the frost on the cars and on the ground, and who heard the weather forecasters say it was the coldest day this year, will be wondering what this blog is about.

Of course, if you come from Edinburgh, and are a reader of the Evening News, the

Frank Boyle and his work

suspicion may have already dawned that the reference isn't to the temperature at which water changes from a liquid to a gas, but to a well-known cartoonist whose work appears regularly in the pages of that blatt. And you would be right!

Glasgow-based cartoonist of the Edinburgh Evening News (as he styles himself), Frank Boyle is opening a solo exhibition of his work in Glasgow on Friday of this week. This will not only display some of his best known cartoons of the recent past, but in addition, Frank will be displaying some of his water colours and drawings.

Cuts Hurt - Part one of thePublic Works diptych 

 

 Frank has been drawing politicians, celebrities and the topical issues of the day, for many years. He also has done cartoons for trade unions and other good causes. - he drew the posters for UNISONScotland's Public Works campaign - but his watercolours and other work are a revelation.

It's well worth getting along to South Block in the centre of Glasgow between November 11-29 (closed 16,17 & 21-24) to check out Frank's work. and if you can't summon up the cash for an original, his current book Boyling Point 2, is on sale there for a measly £8.99. (Or you can get it from Frank's website with a pound off at www.boylecartoon.co.uk).

South Block itself is a new creative venue in Glasgow City Centre. Developed by the well known WASPS Studio it provides studios and work spaces on the corner of Osborne Street, and King Street.

Scottish Parliament has key opportunity to boost Freedom of Information

The Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland (CFoIS) is cranking up its campaigning this week to urge the Scottish Parliament to back a series of amendments to the Scottish Government’s Freedom of Information (Scotland) Amendment Bill. This Bill will have its Stage 3 debate in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 16 Jan and a series of amendments are proposed to ensure FOI rights extend to public services provided by private, voluntary and arms-length bodies. 

The CFoIS wants the Scottish Government to heed the concerns expressed by the Finance Committee’s Stage One report. The Campaign is taking part in a briefing meeting for MSPs on Tuesday 15 Jan, the day before the Parliamentary debate, and will be circulating a written briefing outlining the need to amend this bill to reinstate eroded rights to information. The meeting will be chaired by Paul Martin MSP, and addressed by Carole Ewart of the CFoIS, and Dave Moxham of the STUC.

Carole Ewart, Co-Convener of the CFoIS, said

Carole Ewart - co-convener, CFoIS

“A number of MSPs, including members of the Finance Committee, have submitted amendments to this Bill, as the Scottish Government appears unable or unwilling to accept our arguments in favour of protecting our information rights.”

The major reason why the Bill should be strengthened is to retrieve peoples’s information rights lost as increasing outsourcing of our public services removes services from coverage.  Neither the Scottish Government nor previous Scottish Executive Administrations have ever used their powers to add named bodies and categories of bodies to the list of organisations covered.

Amending the Bill is also necessary to meet the Scottish Government’s own FoI principles, 1 and 2: that “the public’s right to know remains an essential part of an open, democratic government and responsive public services” and FoISA “will be adjusted where it is necessary and sensible to do so”

You are all urged to get in touch with your MSP to lobby them to support the amendments (Amendments 1-9, 12 and 14) being backed by the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland. There is  an email message available on the UNISONScotland website, that allows Campaign supporters to lobby their MSPs easily. 

Carole Ewart said  “At a time when Audit Scotland estimates over 130 arms-length bodies are involved in delivering public services, and when the Scottish Government is proposing bills like the Procurement, and Community Empowerment Bills that will bring more bodies into public service delivery, it is very concerning that they seem oblivious to the threats these pose to everyone’s right to know about how our cash is spent.”

An article on the need for a 'purpose clause' in the legislation written by the Captain is also published today's Scottish Review.

• a copy of the briefing sent to MSPs in advance of the debate will be available  from Monday on the CFoI website at http://www.cfoi.org.uk/scotland.htmlhttp://www.cfoi.org.uk/scotland.html

FREE Film show is next step in Right to Know campaign

International Right to Know day
This Friday (28 September) is International Right to Know Day, and the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland, is marking it with a FREE showing of the classic US film about a President's attempt to hide criminal activity, and how this was revealed publicly - All the Presidents Men.  

This takes place at the Glasgow Film Theatre at 2.50pm. Sponsored by UNISON Scotland.

This film - directed by Alan J. Pakula - stars the youthful-looking Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as two journalists on the Washington Post (Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, who co-wrote the script) who break the story of President Richard Nixon's involvement in a criminal conspiracy to secure his re-election. While it starts with a minor break in at the National HQ of the Democratic Party, the story ultimately reveals a web of spying activity set up by the White House. Confirmation in the absence of FOI laws ('All White House transactions are confidential'), is obtained from a shadowy source - Deep Throat (who turned out to be the Deputy Director of the FBI!!

The screening is part of the CFoIS' campaign to extend the FOI laws in Scotland to cover outside organisations that provide public services, and will be followed by a discussion chaired by Rosalind McInnes, solicitor for BBC Scotland, with speakers from UNISON and CFoIS. 

Free tickets are available from the GFT box office on the day.

Contact the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland for more information, or Chris Bartter on 07715 583 729

Working in unison needs a broad base

Coalition formed in UNISON?

Amongst all the surprise and astonishment that has greeted the 'historic' Labour/SNP coalition in Edinburgh (although constituents in East Renfrewshire might be forgiven for questioning the novelty of this situation) it is interesting to consider a factor that might well have been a catalyst,

A factor that has not been publicly mentioned (as far as I know) is what happened in the huge furore around the LibDems' Alternative Business Model (ABM) proposals in the last administration. The proposals, which primarily involved privatising both support and front-line services in the city, caused a huge backlash, with a very successful campaign, led by the council trade unions but incorporating a much wider community base, ultimately leading to its defeat.

Of course, given the knife-edge balance of the previous party make up (29 each with the Tories always likely to back selling off services), this defeat had to involve detaching SNP support from their LibDem coalition partners and a joint vote with Labour (and the Greens) to defeat the plans.

UNISON (the largest council union) activists in the city have admitted privately that their greatest concern was the the notorious resentment between Labour and the Nationalists might scupper the final votes. In the midst of a very vocal and highly-charged campaign, the difficulty in gaining the joint support of the two key parties without pushing either into a political corner was a manoeuvre worthy of Balkan dexterity!

Working together

As is now known, it was ultimately successful and scuppered the LibDem privatisation plans in all areas. Ultimately two ABMs were defeated by joint Labour/SNP amendments and the LibDems threw the other one out themselves. The two parties also – it now appears – reaped the benefits in the elections. Jenny Dawe and her LD colleagues were left to face the full wrath of the electorate on their own.

Was this experience a straw in the wind of this week's shock coalition? A positive experience in working together can only have assisted the move towards it. Too much cannot be ascribed to this working together, or indeed should it be predicted for this coalition. The economic future for all local government in Scotland is bleak, and difficult times lie ahead. Not only will these strain the alliance, they will almost certainly mean issues with their own workforce and with the communities they serve.

Lessons that both Councillor Burns and Councillor Cardownie need to heed are that power does not simply involve the division of positions on the council, but must ensure that services are defended for their communities. And just as the workforce was instrumental in piloting joint activity over the ABM crisis, they need to continue to be part of the working together package to steer Edinburgh through the crises to come.

Huge turnout for Nov 30 shows new developments in activity, and some political mistakes

Huge turnouts in rallies and marches across Scotland have given the lie to those politicians who have been accusing union leaders of bullying and intimidation. In Glasgow and Edinburgh march and rally attendance topped the 10K mark in each city. Glasgow had to put on an overflow rally meeting to cram ‘em all in. IIn Edinburgh the sight of SNP MSPs joining ConDem MSPs going through union picket lines inspired double the ‘permitted’ number of marchers to cram into the square outside the parliament and listen to an equally inspired Rodney Bickerstaffe demolish the attempts to divide public and private sector workers. “If one person has a leg cut off,” he said does that mean everyone has to have their leg cut off, because it’s not fair?”.  

Rallies and marches took place across Scotland. In Kirkwall, Aberdeen, Moray, Inverness, Motherwell, Dundee, Falkirk, Dumfries, Glenrothes, Paisley, Livingstone. At all of them organisers were reporting double plus the numbers expected. While an estimated 300,000 took strike action in Scotland, around 30,000 also went on marches and rallies, picketed and gave other support.

In Glasgow ‘UNISON have filled the gathering point on their own!’ tweeted the PCS. The demonstration started at 12.30pm and the last got moving at 14.15pm! Those who could get in to the Barrowlands heard UNISON’s Scottish Secretary, Mike Kirby point out that “It could cost this country up to £15 billion to support the millions of private sector workers who have been locked out of saving for their retirement."

A number of commentators watching the rallies have been struck by the changing nature of the strikers. Trade unionists, they were certainly, and angry they were too, but they were not the traditional ‘middle-aged male’. Mike Kirby and Dave Prentis both pointed to the key role being played by women in leading the strikes, and others including the president of the National Pensioners Convention, Rodney Bickerstaffe noticed the high proportion of young people involved in the action. Many of the strikers were involved in their first industrial action, and some of the unions taking part - especially small clinical professional bodies - mark a new development, never having taken strike action before.

Are we seeing a new generation of activists taking the  lead? It is maybe too early to say that this marks a significant shift in the levels of collective activity in the young, or in women, or that there is an ‘arab spring’, but there is certainly something in motion that political and trade union leaders ignore at their peril.

The political fallout from the strikes will be interesting, given the  new numbers of activists. My old colleague Dave Watson has blogged about the position here in Scotland and I think his analysis is sound, if a little easy on the major tactical errors made by the Scottish Government. Yes there are very good trade unionists in the SNP ranks, but they are more than outnumbered by their backwoods colleagues. First Minister, Alex Salmond, who rejected union calls for a suspension of the Scottish Parliament, was booed when his picture was held at the Glasgow rally. 

The ConDems in Westminster, too, have seriously misjudged the mood of the nation. Opinion polls and media straw polls for some time now, have been showing increasing support for the strikers, and Tory ministers like Francis Maude and Danny Alexander have been thrashing about trying to find a tactic to demonise trade unions. Now Cameron’s pal, Jeremy Clarkson has let the cat out of the bag. Calling for strikers to be shot in front of their families, is exactly the logical conclusion of Tory government and Daily Mail vitriol. Not that Cameron will be pleased by his dinner pals intervention. The Tories - instead of going on the offensive - have had to spend the day distancing themselves from their fascistic supporter. The BBC too (not for the first time) have spent the day digging themselves deeper into a hole. One does wonder what it would take for the BBC to actually address the damage this presenter is doing to them? As it is they flounder gracelessly making ‘apologies’ that compound the felony.

Scottish Water failings outline exactly why Freedom of Information coverage must be extended

UNISON last week ‘celebrated’ a ruling from Scottish Information Commissioner, Kevin Dunion that Scottish Water must reveal costings of PFI contracts that have been operational for some 10 or more years. The celebrations - which mark another step in the union’s long term campaign against this expensive and increasingly bizarre way of funding public service capital expenditure - may however have been somewhat muted.

One reason for this is that not all the information was able to be released. Incredibly Scottish Water do not hold Full Business Cases(FBCs) for nine multi-million pound PFI projects. That is, the documents that purport to show why the paying of £600 million in capital costs, and the continued paying of £130m a year of our money to private contractors to build, and operate sewage works, water treatment works and other vital public services is a good deal, don’t exist (at least in Scottish Water’s hands)!

So, while (courtesy of the Act, and Mr Dunion) we know what the projects are costing (although Scottish Water didn’t want to tell us all of that), we do not know what alternatives were investigated, and we do not know why other methods of funding were discounted - although we can make a guess! 

One of the excuses that Scottish Water used was that the contracts were entered into before they existed, by the previous water authorities. Maybe they got lost in the merger. We all know how difficult it is to keep track of these minor bits of paper when bringing filing together! Come to think of it, maybe those advocating merged Police and Fire Services better keep an eye open for the contracts slipping down the back of the sofa!

However it gets worse! In 2001 Scottish Water told a Scottish Parliament Committee that three of the nine FBCs existed - the Scottish Government website still claims that two do! UNISON is rightly scandalised that a major quango misled Parliament in this way, and was/is so cavalier with your cash! 

But that is the way of PFI contracts. As we are now finding out, the chickens are beginning to settle in the roosting barns with a vengeance. As most if not all of these contracts contain clauses ‘ring-fencing’ the payments to the private contractors, when public sector cash contracts (as it currently is), the only payments guaranteed, are these to PFI contractors. So other essential services suffer increased cutbacks while PFI contracts don’t (if you get my drift).

Oh, and by the way, the contractors themselves are NOT covered by the Freedom of Information Act so, no point in asking them the kind of questions that opened up the ‘mystery of the missing FBCs’ to find out how (for example) contractors take decisions in delivering these services, or what staffing ratios they choose to use, or a million and one other pieces of information on what they do with your money. Indeed, water and sewerage in England - as it is fully privatised - isn’t covered by their FOI Act at all! 

Private contractors ARE covered (in both England and Scotland) to a limited extent through what are known as the Environmental Information Regulations. Indeed, Kevin Dunion specifically judged that these were the appropriate regulations to use in the UNISON case. But they only apply to environmental information. And in any case FOI is supposed to be straightforward, simple, open and transparent. Having two different standards does not help that aim. 

Isn’t it time that the Scottish Government dusted off their proposals to extend the FOI Act in Scotland to cover the myriad of outsourced, private, voluntary, partnerships, trusts and other bodies that are being invented to deliver your services with your money? Not only should they be dusted off (even the Westminster Tories are planning some extension to their Act) they should - to mix a metaphor - be beefed up! They have a majority now...