Building unity after EU Referendum

People’s Assembly Scotland Conference this Saturday

The People’s Assembly Scotland is organising an industrial and political conference on Saturday 17 September in the Renfield St Stephens Centre, 260 Bath St, Glasgow G2 4JP starting at 10.30am where leading trade unionists from UNITE, UNISON, RMT, FBU and others will address activists to discuss and organise building unity in the fight against austerity in a post-EU Scotland.

Phil McGarry, chair of the broad-based People’s Assembly Scotland said: “Referendums by their nature polarise public opinion so it is time now to focus on what unites us rather than divides us to face the formidable challenges ahead. 

“Scotland has been through two major referendums in as many years. Whether people voted for independence or not, or to leave the EU or not, we all face one challenge in common – the damage caused by austerity. 

“The politics of austerity continue to threaten Scotland’s economy, industry, public services and its people’s standard of living. This conference will tackle what needs to be done to build a fairer society here and now.” 

The conference will address issues like the crises facing the NHS, housing and transport, and the effects of job losses and poverty. 

Phil McGarry said: “Working people in Britain are suffering the sharpest decline in real wages since the Victorian era. 

“Clearly the political intent is to drive down wages, terms and conditions and pensions, boost profits, privatise the publicly owned services and industries that are left, and assist tax dodging for the super rich and corporate Britain. 

“That means we have to build unity and strong organisation in the workplace and in our communities to protect jobs, invest in industry and public services and start to repair the damage caused by austerity.” 

Speakers at the half-day conference will include

–         Graeme Stevenson, former president of the European Transport Workers’ Federation who will bring a European perspective

–         Lilian Macer, UNISON Scotland Scottish convener and health worker who will speak on issues facing the NHS

–         Mike Dailly, Principal Solicitor, Govan Law Centre, who will speak on the housing crisis

–         Denise Christie of the Fire Brigades Union who will highlight job losses

–         Gordon Martin of the RMT union who will speak on Transport issues.

–         and Martin Mayer, Sheffield TUC and Unite representative on the Labour Party  NEC.