Date: Sat 9 April 2005
UNISONScotland to back G8 protests
UNISON, Scotland's largest union, is likely to agree today to give
its backing to a variety of protest actions aimed at the G8 meeting
in Scotland later this year.
The union's Scottish Council is meeting in Glasgow's Caledonian
University today (Saturday) and will debate a motion and amendment
giving support to:
- The huge Make Poverty History Demonstration and rally in Edinburgh
on Saturday 2 July
- The G8 Alternatives Summit the following day,
- A protest at Faslane Nuclear Submarine base on 4 July.
UNISON's Scottish Council - involving hundreds of delegates from
branches across Scotland - will meet at 10.30am on Saturday 9 April,
in the Refectory of the Hamish Wood Building, Glasgow Caledonian
University. If you wish to interview any of the participants or
film/photograph the meeting, please contact Chris Bartter (below).
Mike Kirby, UNISON's Scottish Convenor said "UNISON has been an
integral part of the organising of the Make Poverty History event.
Trade union members wear the white bands urging 'Respect Workers
Rights' as well. We will be urging UNISON members to attend the
demonstration and be part of the giant human white band around Edinburgh,
and committing financial backing to this event. We will also be
part of the STUC mobilisation raising support from elsewhere in
the trade union movement at the STUC Congress later this month.
It is wholly in line with UNISON's aims to draw attention to increasing
world poverty and inequality and to show that another world is possible."
The meeting is also likely also decide to back the peaceful alternative
summit being organised by G8 Alternatives and the blockade of Faslane
by SCND and Trident Ploughshares.
Michael Macneil, Secretary of UNISON's Scottish International
Committee said "The alternative summit follows on from the European
Social Forum last year. We want to ensure that the maximum number
of people from across the world are able to take part in a range
of peaceful protests. We want a New Global Deal to tackle issues
of debt relief, trade negotiations and development funding."
More detail on the Make Poverty History campaign is available on
a link from the UNISONScotland Website at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk
ENDS
For Further Information Please Contact: Mike Kirby (Scottish
Convenor) 0845 355 0845(w) 07803 952 261(m) Matt Smith (Scottish
Secretary) 0845 355 0845(w) 07771 548 997(m) Michael Macneil (Sec
- Scott Int Rels Cttee) 0845 355 0845(w) Chris Bartter (Communications
Officer) 0845 355 0845(w) 0771 558 3729(m)
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