Tag: demonstration

Homeless Project Scotland to hold peaceful protest this morning

“It is said that the mark of a civilised society is how we treat our most vulnerable citizens; what does this say about our society?“

Homeless Project Scotland are holding a peaceful protest outside the Glasgow City Chambers in George Square this morning at 10:00 am.  

A spokesperson for the campaign group explained: “The aim of the peaceful protest is simply to demonstrate to elected members that Homeless Project Scotland’s call for a building will not be ignored. Our soup kitchens are now becoming a service operating 7 days per week and are attracting over 200 members on average. 

“We have asked Council Leader Susan Aitken and Scotland’s First Minister to bring our most vulnerable and those experiencing homelessness in doors to have warmth, care, compassion and nourishment that is essential to us all to survive. The time for talking is over. It is now the time to cut the keys. 

“We are hearing time after time from people on social media outlets that we are bringing people into the city centre, in actual fact it is the council.

“Since 2020 the council has had 4 Glasgow Hotels all located walking distance from our current unit under the Central Station Bridge and indeed, the removal of dinner from these accommodations is, among the cost of living and the COVID-19 pandemic, to a sharp incline. Poverty is now becoming the fastest spreading epidemic and we need action now. 

“Our peaceful assembly is welcome for everyone to come and partake in and is potentially going to the circuit Scotland’s Streets.

“Homelessness is not invisible, these are people, it is ridiculous that in this day and age that people are pushed to choose heat or eat. There is a tenfold increase in the number of service users we are seeing and a tenfold increase in the number of street outreach clients. 

“It is said that the mark of a civilised society is how we treat our most vulnerable citizens; what does this say about our society? “

There will be refreshments and a good old fashioned Scots Broth Soup for those in attendance.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

WE STRIKE TOGETHER: Demonstrations across Scotland

Striking workers, tenants, football supporters and campaigners are set to come together this Saturday to rally against the unprecedented attacks on working people.

Large numbers are expected to gather for the Enough is Enough campaign day of action, which will be held tomorrow (Saturday 1st October). .

A number of organisations are involved in organising the event including the CWU, RMT, Living Rent, Power to the People Glasgow, Glasgow Strike Solidarity group and Fans Supporting Foodbanks Scotland.

The campaign is encouraging people to show solidarity with striking workers on the picket line on Saturday morning – with particular emphasis on the RMT and ASLEF picket line at Glasgow Central and the CWU picket line at the Royal Mail delivery office on Baird Street.

Speakers at Glasgow’s 12 noon rally will include STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer, CWU National Assistant Secretary Davie Robertson, the RMT’s Scottish Organiser Gordon Martin and UNISON’s Kirsteen Fraser, who is currently involved in the industrial action at the University of Glasgow.

Representatives from Fans Supporting Foodbanks, Living Rent and Power to the People Glasgow will also be speaking at the Glasgow event.

Commenting ahead of the day of action, the CWU’s Regional Secretary for Scotland Craig Anderson said: “The Government’s disastrous budget last week has intensified the unprecedented attacks on working people’s living standards.

“For months teachers, nurses, firefighters and all other workers, including CWU members in Royal Mail, the Post Office and the BT Group, have been told that giving them a real pay rise would be inflationary. Well, now we know it’s the government handing out tax cuts to the super rich that is causing the real economic crisis for working people in this country.

“People are angry. Workers are striking back and working class people are taking to the streets to campaign against soaring energy bills and rip off rents. 

“Collective campaigning delivers victories for working people. Join us on Saturday, show solidarity with your posties, rail workers and all other workers taking action to defend living standards and tell the establishment – Enough is Enough.”

The Enough is Enough campaign is also supporting demonstrations in Dundee, Aberdeen and Edinburgh. The details are:

Glasgow – Buchanan Street steps from 12noon onwards

Dundee – meeting at 12pm, 110 Blackness road, DD1 5PB

Aberdeen – meeting at 11am, Marischal college, AB10 1AB

Edinburgh – meeting at 10.30am, Waverley Bridge, EH1 1BQ

STUC: Scotland Demands A Pay Rise

March and Rally outside the Scottish Parliament

Thursday 8th September

Assemble 10:30am: Johnson Terrace, EH1 2PW March off: 11am

Rally at the Scottish Parliament 11.30 – 1pm

The Cost-of-Living Crisis is hitting people across the country. Public service workers in particular are facing a fresh set of real terms pay cuts on top of years of stagnating wages.

The STUC and our affiliated unions are campaigning for a range of urgent actions to stem this crisis, including action to reduce energy bills, support for those of all ages on benefits, rent caps and action to reduce transport costs.

The ultimate responsibility for the Cost-of-Living Crisis sits with the Tories at Westminster. However, this does not mean that the Scottish Government is powerless. It needs to start by funding inflation level pay rises for Scottish public service workers.

Join us, as we demand better for the public service workers of Scotland.

Campaigners to hold protest against war-profiteers in Edinburgh tomorrow

At 12pm tomorrow (Saturday 28 May), Edinburgh Campaign Against Arms Trade (Edinburgh CAAT), alongside several other groups, will be holding a demonstration outside the Leonardo offices on 2 Crewe Rd North. 

Leonardo is one of the world’s biggest arms companies and has a long and shameful history of arming and supporting human rights abusing regimes across the world. In 2021 it posted revenues of €14.1bn, which included a year-on-year net profit increase over 142%. 

It is one of the main manufacturers of the Typhoon jet that has been used by Saudi Arabian forces in the bombardment of Yemen. 

Likewise, the T-129 attack helicopter – which was jointly developed by Leonardo and Turkish Aerospace Industries – has been extensively used by Turkish forces in its military operations against Kurdish groups. 

Leonardo has provided arms and support for the Israeli government, despite the decades of abuses that it has inflicted on Palestinians. Only last month the company secured a $29 million contract to provide military helicopters to Israel. 

Protesters will gather for speeches and performances by the San-Ghanny choir, which has been to Palestine, and the ZarifAtToul dance troupe who will be teaching Palestinian dances. 

Melanie Scott, a spokesperson for Edinburgh CAAT, said: “Leonardo is one of the biggest arms companies in the world and has armed, supported and profited from human rights abuses around the world.

“It has backed dictatorships like the one in Saudi Arabia and fuelled repression against people in Palestine and beyond. 

“Despite its devastating global impact, a lot of people in Edinburgh pass Leonardo’s arms factory every day and are totally unaware of the weapons that are being made inside or who those weapons are being sold to.

“That is why we are bringing people together in unity to shine a light on Leonardo’s complicity in these abuses.”

Global Youth Climate Strike for the first time since COP26

FRIDAYS FOR FUTURE SCOTLAND – PEOPLE NOT PROFIT

This Friday (25/3/22), for the first time since COP26, young people will take to Scotland’s streets by striking from their schools, colleges and universities.

In November, over 35,000 young people marched in Glasgow to demand climate justice, setting the tone for the next day when 100,000 people from all over the world would do the same. This global climate strike will keep the pressure up on politicians to take action, instead of making empty promises.

This global strike will see more than 700 protests globally, with 8 strikes taking place in Scotland alone.

COP26 failed us – not that we ever expected it to deliver.

Across the globe, the planet burns while wealth and power grows yet more concentrated in the hands of the few. Decision makers sit back, choosing to not to protect people and planet but to exacerbate the climate crisis.

Young people all around the world are standing against this dereliction of duty.

On March 25th, we will demand our government’s put People Before Profit.

Cerys Gough, 18, from Langholm, said: ”The science is clear. We’ve already seen irreversible damage caused by the climate crisis, and the recent IPCC Report declared a Code Red situation.

“We cannot afford to delay anymore, which is why we’re taking to the streets again”.

Cora Gibson, 15, from Edinburgh, said: “We don’t need to wait for the next COP to act on the climate crisis.

“Governments could be investing in renewable energy, phasing out fossil fuels, improving public transport, making our houses less reliant on fossil fuels, and so much more.”

Saoi O’Connor, 19, from Glasgow, said: “The UK Government has subsidised over £13.6 billion into fossil fuel companies since the Paris Agreement was signed. In 2021, just 24 oil companies made £131.3 billion in profit.

“Meanwhile, people on the lowest incomes are being forced into fuel poverty, being forced into choosing between heating their homes or feeding their families. That is a complete failure, we must prioritise people over profit.”

Climate Strike Locations:

Edinburgh – 11am, Scottish Parliament to Edinburgh City Chambers
Glasgow – 12pm, George Square
Dumfries – 11am, Council Headquarters
Falkirk – 11am, Highstreet Bandstand
Inverness – 11am, Falcon Square
Stirling – 2pm, Town Centre, Port Street
Ullapool – 8:30am, Clocktower

Cost of Living Crisis: Join the protests!

Prices are rising but people are fighting back!

The cost of living crisis is going to cause hardship for millions of people. Huge rises in energy prices will see oil companies make vast profits whilst people struggle to heat their homes.

Protests will take place across the UK this weekend.

Speakers from lots of organisations making demands for a fairer society.

Join an event near you!

📅Sat 12 Feb 1pm

📍Glasgow: facebook.com/events/1545395552527681

📍Edinburgh: facebook.com/events/628238008287873

Union’s ‘deep dismay’ over Edinburgh care home closures

UNISON, the union for carers, has expressed deep dismay at the decision to close an Edinburgh care home. The decision was passed by the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (IJB) – which commissions health and social services from the City – at a meeting on Tuesday.

 UNISON, Scotland’s largest union, has been campaigning to prevent the closure of five council-run Edinburgh care homes, including Drumbrae. A further four council-run homes – Ferrylee, Clovenstone, Fords Road and Jewel House are all being earmarked for closure but subject to public consultation. 

Tom Connolly, UNISON Edinburgh City branch secretary, said: “The people of Edinburgh can feel very let down by this decision to close a much-needed local service, not least the elderly and vulnerable who reside in the care home and now face an uncertain future. 

“UNISON will continue its campaign to save public sector-run care homes and prevent them going into private hands. People need to come before profit and UNISON will continue its fight to save Edinburgh’s public run care homes and call for all private run care homes to be brought into the public sector.”

Greig Kelbie, UNISON regional organiser, said: “The decision to close Drumbrae was made without any public consultation and is a real slap in the face to the most vulnerable people in the city. 

“UNISON understands there is a substantial waiting list for homes in the area, so if the need hasn’t gone away then why should the services?” 

Edinburgh Integration Joint Board is chaired by Labour councillor Ricky Henderson and membership includes local politicians Councillor Melanie Main (Scottish Greens), Councillor George Gordon (SNP), Councillor Robert Aldridge (Liberal Democrats) and Councillor Phil Doggart (Conservative).

McVitie’s workers take the fight for their future to Holyrood

Workers at the closure threatened McVitie’s site in Tollcross will take the fight for the future of their factory to Holyrood today, with a socially distanced demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament ahead of First Minister’s Questions.

The workforce is calling on politicians to stand with them and the community, to demand that David Murray, Managing Director of pladis, participates in meaningful consultation over alternative proposals to the closure of the factory and the loss of 470 local jobs.

A petition to save the jobs has so far received more than 72,000 signatures.

GMB Scotland Organiser David Hume said: “Workers at the McVitie’s site in Tollcross are fighting for their factory and their future, and every day the collective voice of the workforce and the local community grows louder.

“GMB committed to exploring every avenue to save these jobs and bring investment into this business but, if we’re to pursue alternative proposals to secure a future for these workers, we need the decision makers at pladis to come to the table.

“David Murray can’t be allowed to hide out in London while condemning Glasgow to a new generation of manufacturing decline. We’re calling on politicians to stand with the workers and the local community.

“It’s their factory and their future, and they want to fight for it.”

Living Rent: Gorgie Deserves Better protest today

We need more social and affordable housing, not more purpose-built student accommodation. Here’s what you can do to reject the planned development:

1. Come to the new Tynecastle High School at 1pm this Sunday 30th May. Bring signs and masks and follow the COVID guidelines to stay safe: 

https://fb.me/e/3nm2LPH55

2. Follow the instructions on our website to send a letter to S1 Developments and tell them what you think of the development directly. Make yourself heard! 

livingrent.org/objection

3. Join Living Rent to help organise and create change in your area: 

livingrent.org/join

Gorgie needs affordable housing! We deserve better!