#STUC14 The STUC has backed a range of
measures to promote sustainable economic
growth in Scotland and will urge the Scottish
Government to implement their plans for
industrial strategy, fairer employment
and greater equality, now instead of waiting
till after the referendum.
Backing the General Council, GMB and
Community motion, UNISON's Brenda Aitchison
quoted actor Ricky Tomlinson's speech
to UNISON Conference last year: "People
talk about booms and busts but it only
ever booms among the money men... the
working classes never experience boom
and bust. they have bust, bust and more
bust."
Brenda slammed zero hours contracts and
poverty wages. "In UNISON 78% of
our members are women and austerity has
had a hugely disprorprionate effect on
them. Local government workers have seen
pay cuts of 13% in real terms and thousands
of job losses.
"We are all doing more for less.
Our campaign 'Worth It' highlights how
important fair pay and public services
are", she told delegates.
And she raised a laugh with her comments
on "George - eyes down for a full
house - Osborne, cutting tax on bingo
and beer. We have had enough of casino/bingo
economics. we're calling 'house' on that
game. We need fair employment and reduced
economic inequality now", said Brenda.
The motion called on government and local
government to set higher ethical standards
in procurement and new measures to extend
economic democracy, including laws on
the ownership and control of pension and
insurance funds and resources for unions
to develop alternative plans when faced
with sell-offs and asset stripping.
