Date Friday 23 Feb 2007

UNISONScotland leader speaks out on Trident

Matt Smith, Scottish Secretary of the country's largest trade union, UNISON, will tomorrow (Saturday) call on the Government to abandon its plans to replace the Trident nuclear fleet.

Matt will be one of the speakers at the 'Bin the Bomb' demonstration in Glasgow tomorrow (24 February) organised by Scotland's 4 Peace , and Scottish CND "The possession of these weapons of mass destruction is unethical, unnecessary and expensive"

Matt will say. "we have a world of unmet needs - of poverty and hunger - of war and destruction. There are so many needs that we have to fund, replacing Trident is not one of them. At a time that Government here and in the UK are looking for the most efficient use of public money, it is clearly a very poor use of that money to spend it on new nuclear weapons. We call on the government to draw back from this step, and on our representatives in Parliament to vote against it."

UNISON has long had a policy of opposition to the possession of nuclear weapons, and has given much support to the campaign. Other prominent speakers will also address the Rally tomorrow in George Square at 1.00pm, including Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien, Rt Rev Alan McDonald (Moderator, Church of Scotland), Alex Salmond MP, Katy Clark MP, Malcolm Chisholm MSP, Chris Ballance MSP, Rosie Kane MSP, Tommy Sheridan MSP, Pat Smith (Stop the War).

ENDS

For Further Information Please Contact: Matt Smith (Scottish Secretary) 07771 548 997(m) Chris Bartter (Communications Officer) 0771 558 3729(m)

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