Day: March 18, 2022

‘Standing firm in friendship’

Council to grant Freedom of the City to leaders of Ukraine

City councillors have reinforced the City’s ongoing solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Councillors came together at yesterday’s full council meeting to unanimously grant the Freedom of the City to the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Mayor Vitali Klitschko of Edinburgh’s twin city, Kyiv, in recognition of them standing heroically by their citizens and leading the fight against Russia’s illegal invasion.

The Council Leaders also reaffirmed their support of local humanitarian efforts and help for refugees, confirming that Edinburgh ‘stands ready’ to support victims of the crisis who seek refuge in Edinburgh.

The meeting heard from the Chair of the Ukrainian Association in Edinburgh, Hannah Beaton-Hawryluk, who thanked the city and Council for their ongoing efforts – highlighting many of the horrors being faced by Scottish-Ukrainian residents’ family members and those trying to flee.

In readiness for welcoming refugees to the city, officers are holding daily meetings with the Scottish Government, Edinburgh Airport, third sector partners and other agencies to make sure people are welcomed into safety and receive all the support they need from the moment they land.

This is being coordinated to ensure the best use of resources – whether that be arranging accommodation, transport, interpreters, access to GPs and healthcare, counselling, education, and other vital services.

A helpline has also been set up for Ukrainian arrivals, which will be operated 24 hours a day, and a dedicated page on the council website.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “We’re standing firm in friendship with the people of Ukraine, committing to doing whatever we can to help.

“I’m enormously proud we’ve agreed to award the Freedom of Edinburgh to President Zelensky (above) and Mayor Klitschko, recognising all they’ve done and continue to do for their people.

“I hope this decision demonstrates our absolute solidarity and admiration of the people of Kyiv and Ukraine, who have literally taken up arms in defence of their country against this illegal and murderous invasion by Putin’s forces, and I very much hope that, one day, they’ll be able to receive this honour in person.

“I’ve been deeply moved by the footage on all of our TV screens and by the outpouring of support from Edinburgh, as highlighted by the Ukrainian Association’s heartfelt and powerful deputation earlier today. Their members are doing everything they can to support their literal brothers and sisters, who are victims of this war, and to deliver humanitarian aid.

“The money we have pledged will make a huge difference to organisations like this, and we’ll continue to look at further actions in the weeks and months ahead to do everything within our power to help people who are arriving in our city to escape Ukraine. There’s no doubting the enormity of the task to make this happen and I know the Ukrainian community are immensely grateful for the support they’ve had so far.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “Today we heard heart-breaking stories of local people whose families are trapped in this war and those who are fleeing. We will do everything we can to welcome those who arrive here with open arms.

“We’ve already witnessed an incredible response from the people of Edinburgh since the invasion began, with tonnes of donations arriving at Ukraine’s borders having been donated, packed and driven by volunteers from Edinburgh. I’m sure we will see this generosity continue as people open their doors to join the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

“As a city, we condemn the actions of Putin’s regime and commend the heroic way in which Ukraine’s political leaders have stood up to lead and defend their nation. The Freedom of the City is a tradition that dates back over 560 years and can only be ‘bestowed upon those who are held in the highest esteem’. It is very rarely conferred in Edinburgh so the unanimous decision at Council speaks volumes about the strength of Edinburgh’s solidarity.”

Following the Council’s decision today, up to £100,000 of Council funding will also be targeted towards local efforts with the Edinburgh Partnership to maximise supplies to Ukraine, support local infrastructure for facilitating donations and transport of supplies to Poland and elsewhere.

Letters will be sent to the Home Office, UK Foreign Office and MOD seeking further clarity and support for refugees and help with temporary accommodation.

In an additional display of solidarity with Ukraine, a ban on Russian cultural events and performances in Council-owned venues has also been set and the Council has ended its relationship with the Russian Consulate, and the Ukrainian flag will continue to fly from the City Chambers.

‘Gangster Capitalism’: outrage over P&O’s 800 illegal sackings

NATIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS TO BE HELD TODAY

P&O staff and other trades unionists will join demonstrations in Dover, Liverpool, and Hull today, condemning P&O for sacking 800 staff.

The company, which is funded by the Dubai Royal Family, stunned workers in a pre-recorded Zoom call, when they informed staff that they were being dismissed and would be replaced by cheap agency labour from abroad.

When workers rightly refused to simply accept this despotic decision, private security staff with handcuffs, believed to have been hired by the company, began to drag workers off the ships.



RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “It is vital workers from every industry mobilise for the demonstrations on Friday.

“We need to send a message to ruthless employers and the government alike, that when working people are treated so abysmally, there is a militant response from the trade union movement.

“This example of gangster capitalism which our members in P&O have been subjected, is what lies ahead for other workers up and down the country if we do not all take a stand.”

The demonstration details are as follows: 

Dover:12.00 midday – meet Maritime House Snargate Street, Dover CT17 9BZ

Liverpool: 1.00pm Main Liverpool Port entrance Liverpool L21 1LA

 Hull:  12. 00 midday– King George Dock, Hull HU9 5PR 

Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “This scandalous action is a betrayal of the workers that kept this country stocked throughout the pandemic. Unscrupulous employers cannot be given free rein to sack their workforce in secure jobs and replace with agency staff.

“The Conservative government must not give the green light to this appalling practice and must act to secure the livelihoods of these workers.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “I’m deeply concerned at P&O announcement – due to the importance to Scotland of the Cairnryan/Larne route obviously, but also the impact on 100s of workers.

“Fire & rehire is an appalling practice & offends the basic principle of fair work. @scotgov will be seeking urgent talks”.

While the UK Government has made no official comment, Defence Minister James Heapey told BBC’s Breakfast that P&O Ferries have ‘behaved disgracefully’ but admitted that the company’s ‘despicable’ fire and rehire action is not something the government could have stopped. He said the government will focus on supporting the workers who have lost their jobs .

  • Union body calls on ministers to urgently bring forward an employment bill to end fire and rehire style practices
  • Workers must be reinstated immediately – and P&O Ferries must face serious consequences if they fail to do this, says TUC
  • What happened to P&O workers “can’t ever be allowed to happen again”, says TUC

The TUC has called for the “scandalous” treatment of P&O workers to be a “turning point” for workers’ rights in the UK.

The union body says ministers must bring forward an employment bill now to stop workers from “being treated like disposable labour”.

The call comes after 800 P&O crew were sacked without notice on Thursday and threatened with handcuffs if they refused to leave their ships.

P&O Ferries’ actions appear to be unlawful. But the TUC says these events show that UK employment law urgently needs strengthening to penalise bad employers.

The union body says ministers must use an employment bill to:

  • End fire and rehire style practices and stop companies firing at will: P&O has exploited many of the same weaknesses in the law as companies using the punitive fire and rehire tactics. TUC research published during the pandemic revealed that 1 in 11 (9%) of workers have been forced to re-apply for their jobs on inferior terms and conditions. The law should state that no notices of dismissal can be given until consultation has been completed. Employees should be given protection from unfair dismissal from day one in the job.
  • Increase penalties on companies that break employment law: P&O’s failure to consult staff on their redundancies was unlawful. But companies who flout employment law in this way currently face very low fines and can get away with offering staff measly compensation.
  • Ban other forms of exploitative practices:  More than 1 million workers in the UK are employed on zero-hours contracts and thousands of others are employed in bogus self- employment. The TUC says zero-hours contracts and umbrella companies should be banned.

In addition, the TUC is calling on the government to:

  • Remove DP World (P&O ferries owner) from any government advisory groups: DP World currently sits on the influential UK Government’s Transport Advisory Group.
  • Get around the table with unions representing members in the sector to urgently review government contracts with P&O and ensure livelihoods are protected

Reinstate sacked staff

 All sacked staff must be reinstated immediately without loss of pay, the TUC is demanding – adding that P&O should face serious consequences.

The union body has warned the government that a “slap on the wrist” from ministers would not be good enough.

And the government must put in place measures to ensure that all future procurement comes with a commitment from companies receiving public money to respect workers’ rights. 

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect at work. But bad bosses can still get away with treating staff like disposable labour.

“What happened at P&O is a national scandal – it can’t ever be allowed to happen again. Enough is enough. This must be turning point for workers’ rights in the UK.

“The government must urgently bring forward an employment bill that strengthens workplace protections and that imposes strong penalties on employers who break the law.

“The prime minister vowed to make Britain the best country in the world to work. He has run out of excuses for failing to deliver on that promise.”

On the need for the government to penalise P&O, Frances added: “P&O has acted appallingly. It must be made an example of.

“A slap on the wrist is not going to cut it.

“If the company refuses to reinstate all of its sacked staff it should face serious consequences.”