Now is the time to stand strong, stand united and put public services first

Branch Chair and NEC member Kate Ramsden joined thousands of people from our union and other unions as they came together in London and demanded change, an end to austerity and real pay rises for all public service workers.

Addressing the rally in Parliament Square, Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary told those assembled that this is trade unionism at its best, “United, single-minded and determined to change our country for the better.

Branch members join Pay Up Now march and rally to demand decent pay rise

Branch members joined over 5,000 public service workers as they marched through Edinburgh on 7 October as part of UNISON’s Pay Up Now! Campaign, which is keeping pressure on both the Scottish and Westminster governments to end the pay cap and give all workers a decent pay rise.

Public service employees have seen their pay held back right across the UK for almost a decade. Public sector pay rose by just 4.4% between 2010 and 2016, while the cost of living rose by 22%.

The rally was addressed by Lilian Macer, UNISON Scotland convener, general secretary Dave Prentis and Gordon McKay, the union’s senior vice president.

See the full report on the UNISON Scotland website with photos and videos of the event.

Pay Up Now! Come along to the March on 7th October and tell the Scottish and UK Governments we need a pay rise now!

Following months of UNISON pressure, the Scottish Government has said they will lift the 1% pay cap on public service workers.  That’s a welcome start, but what does it mean?

1.2%?  1.7%?  2%?  Inflation is 2.9%, so that’s still a real terms pay cut.  And what about all the pay we’ve lost over the last 10 years?

See just how much you’ve lost with our pay cut calculator www.unison.org.uk/our-campaigns/pay-up-now.

And who is it for? The Scottish Government has mentioned nurses and teachers. But what about all the rest of us. Council workers are amongst the lowest paid and local government has taken the biggest hit of job losses.

Sign UNISON's Pay Up Now Petition on the UK Parliament website. If our colleagues south of the border win a pay rise then more cash will come to Scotland for ours. It's easy to sign. Please do it now.

Don't leave it to someone else to fight for your pay
Council  workers,  NHS staff, and UNISON members from across the service groups along with their friends and families from all over Scotland, will gather at Holyrood on Saturday 7 October to show we’re serious about getting a proper pay rise.

Without you and your fellow workers there, we won't have the strong voice we need.  The government will say workers didn’t turn up, so there’s no real demand by staff for a decent pay rise.

The fun bit – Coach transport will be free, and there’s going to be free t-shirts, goodie bags for the kids, face painters, children’s entertainers, and 500 free tickets to Dynamic Earth.  What’s not to like?
Bring your kids, bring your partner, bring your granny, or just bring you!

Coaches are free, but you must book in advance.  Just call the UNISON Resource Centre on 01224 620624.  Spaces are limited, so get in touch by Monday 25 September.

Coach pick up points are:

Place	Time	Pickup point
Elgin	06.30	Town Hall
Inverurie	07.30	Town Hall
Aberdeen	08.00	UNISON Office, Alford Place

Place	Time	Pickup point
Fraserborough	06.30	Leisure Centre car park
Peterhead	07.00	Academy Bus Park
Ellon	07.30	Opposite New Inn
Aberdeen	08.00	UNISON Office, Alford Place

Coaches should be back in Aberdeen around 6pm, and after for places further north.

We will provide bottled water, but please bring a packed lunch for the day.  We will have a collection to raise money for the local CFINE Food Bank (www.cfine.org).

UNISON Pay up Now campaign - March with us on 7th Oct for fair pay for all public service workers

UNISON's Pay up Now campaign is calling for an end to the pay restraint imposed by UK and Scottish governments which has affected members in all service groups from the NHS to Local Government to colleges and universities to police staffs and the community and voluntary sector and more.

The branch is fully behind the campaign and is calling on all our members to get down to the March and Rally on 7th October in Edinburgh. Buses are running from Aberdeen and you can book your place by calling the UNISON Resource Centre on 01224 620624.

Branch Secretary, Inez Kirk said, "For years now all public service workers have seen their pay held back by government in the name of austerity. First a freeze then a cap, resulting in public sector pay, across the UK, rising by just 4.4% between 2010 and 2016 while the cost of living rose by 22%.

"That’s no way to treat hardworking people who play such a vital role in looking after us and holding our communities together – keeping us safe, healthy, educated, and cared for."

Click here for the UNISON UK calculator and find out what your wages should have been to keep up with inflation.

St Andrews Day March and Rally 2016 - Celebrating the multicultural voices of the North East of Scotland

Inez Teece marches with the branch banner

The branch joined hundreds of people from many different ethnic backgrounds - trade unionists, activists, politicians and citizens - as they came together at this year’s St Andrews Day March and Rally in Aberdeen.

This was a celebration of diversity in the North East of Scotland and the marchers gave a clear message that racism and intolerance is not welcome here.

The branch was proud to donate to the cost of a bus to bring the new Syrian Scots from Inverurie to the march.

The event was organised once again by Aberdeen Trades Union Council, this year in partnership with #WeAreAberdeen, a group which has been set up to combat growing racism and intolerance in the wake of the Brexit campaign.

Carrying colourful banners and placards, the marchers were upbeat and joyful as they strode along the aptly named Union Street behind the stirring music of the Granite City Pipes and Drums Youth Band.

Come along to the St Andrews Day March and Rally and celebrate diversity in the North East of Scotland

Members are urged to attend this year's St Andrew's Day March and Rally in Aberdeen which will be held on Saturday 26th November and will celebrate diversity in the North East of Scotland.

Click here for a poster

Organiser, Aberdeen Trades Union Council has joined forces with #We are Aberdeen, a new campaign in the North East of Scotland to bring people and communities together to respond to the recent rise of intolerance across the UK.

Marchers will gather at 11am in the St Nicholas Churchyard, Union Street, Aberdeen to march off at 11.30am for a rally in the Castlegate at 12 noon.

Kate Ramsden, President of the ATUC said, "We are delighted to be working with #We are Aberdeen to celebrate the diversity of our communities in the North East of Scotland.

"Everyone is welcome on the march, to give the message that racism will not be tolerated in the North East of Scotland. We see this as a family event and I would love to see people bringing their own stories and positive messages, such as colourful banners, placards and posters."

The march will be led off by the Granite City Pipes and Drums Youth Band so will be a rousing affair. The rally will hear from speakers from community groups, trade unions and politicians representing the multi-cultural voices of the North East.

Following the rally, there will be songs and poetry from Ray Moore, Davy Kettyles and others in La Lombarda in the Castlegate. Please come and join us there too.

Branch joins Aberdeen May Day March calling for collective action in the struggle against inequality and injustice around the world

UNISON activists and the branch banner joined hundreds of trade unionists, community activists and politicians, four beds and three dogs on the Aberdeen May Day March on Saturday 30th April, calling for workers' rights around the world.

It also called for the ARI Trauma Centre to stay open for the people of the North East of Scotland.

The march was led off once again by the uplifting beats of the Guarana Drummers, stopping at regular intervals to lead the marchers in a chant of “Save our NHS” – a reference to the campaign to save the trauma centre in the North East of Scotland.

Four UNISON members and activists representing  the Grampian Health branch had dressed up as beds to highlight the campaign to ensure that Aberdeen Royal Infirmary can keep its trauma centre for the people of the North East of Scotland.

Humphrey the basset hound brought UNISON health activist Sandra-Dee Masson on the march with him, where he was joined by two other politically active dogs!

Passersby once again stopped to watch and wave as the colourful procession of banners, placards and flags marched by on its exuberant way down the whole of Union Street to the rally in the Castlegate.

Click here for a full report of the March and Rally on ATUC blog

Branch joins St Andrew's Day March and Rally and welcomes refugees in the spirit of our shared humanity

The branch joined almost two hundred trade unionists, politicians and members of faith and community groups at the Aberdeen St Andrew’s Day March and Rally on 28th November to give a clear and unequivocal message that  in the name of our shared humanity, refugees are welcome here in the North East of Scotland – racism and fascism are not!

As the march snaked down Union Street to the rhythm of the Guarana Drummers, passers by again stopped to watch the colourful procession created by the banners of trade unions and community groups, led as always by the red and white banner of the Aberdeen Trades Union Council, who organised the event.

At the rally in the Castlegate, speaker after speaker from trade unionists to community group members to politicians to a refugee, spoke passionately about our shared humanity with all those fleeing war, poverty and oppression.

Click here to read more on the ATUC blog.

Come along to the Aberdeen St Andrews Day March and Rally on Sat 28th November and show that refugees are welcome in the North East

We are encouraging all our members to join us at the St Andrew's Day March and Rally,  on Saturday 28th November to give a clear message that refugees are welcome in the North East of Scotland but racism and fascism are not.

Gather at 11am in St Nicholas Churchyard, Unions Street and march off at 11.30 for a Rally in the Castlegate at 12 noon.

Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair, who will be chairing the Rally as President of the Aberdeen Trades Union Council said, "The theme of this year's event is that refugees are welcome here.

"This important message reflects the theme of the STUC March and Rally which will take place in Glasgow at the same time.

Click here for more information

Scotland United Against Austerity, George Square, Glasgow - a truly historic event

#ScotlandAgainstAusterity Aberdeenshire Branch members joined over 5000 people at the anti-austerity rally in George Square, Glasgow on Saturday 20th June.

Over 5000 gather to demand an end to austerity

Trade unions, political parties and community groups brought their banners and placards in a colourful display, all with one message. End austerity - it only benefits the rich.

They were part of a day of demonstrations against austerity with almost 250,000 thronging the streets of London to give the same message to this Tory Government. Austerity doesn't work and austerity hits the poorest and most vulnerable hardest. End austerity NOW.

Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair, who attended the rally said, "With inspiring speeches, great music and even some sunshine, it was a great event.

Branch members join hundreds to celebrate May Day and march for equality, social justice and workers rights

Branch members joined more than five hundred people from trade unions and campaigning groups, including a number of key local politicians and friends of the ATUC, to march along Union Street on Saturday 2nd March to celebrate International Workers’ Day and to call for an end to austerity.

Led off by the Guarana Drummers, the march was both colourful and noisy as banners and placards were held aloft and marchers moved to the beat of the drums.

Passersby stopped to watch, wave and to take photos, and to show their support for the marchers. Somewhere along the route, the sun came out and the weather stayed fine and Springlike as marchers gathered for an outdoor rally at the Castlegate.

Branch Chair and Vice President of the ATUC compered the Rally where speaker after speaker called for an end to austerity and solidarity across borders.

Click here for a full report of the march and rally on the ATUC site

Click here to see more May Day pics on picasa

Join us at the Aberdeen May Day March and Rally on Sat 2nd May 2015 - Austerity doesn't work

Celebrate International Workers Day on Saturday 2nd May. Join with us in a family friendly march down Union Street to demonstrate your opposition to austerity, which the past five years have shown just doesn't work for ordinary people or for the economy. Only the already very rich are doing well.

The 2015 May Day March and Rally will gather at Rubislaw Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen at 10.30am.

Organised by Aberdeen Trades Union Council (ATUC), it will march off at 11.00am down the full length of Union Street, to a Rally in the Castlegate at 12 noon where there will be a variety of speakers including trade unions, politicians and community activists.

Come along to the St Andrews Day March and Rally and show racism is not welcome in the North East

We are encouraging all our members to join us at the ATUC organised St Andrew's Day March and Rally, to give a clear message that racism and fascism are not welcome here in Aberdeenshire.

Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair, who will be chairing the Rally as Vice President of the Aberdeen Trades Union Council said, "The St Andrew's Day March opposes racism in all its forms and celebrates diversity.

"The particular theme this year is Anti-Apartheid, because it is 30 years since Aberdeen gave the Freedom of the City to Nelson Mandela.

"It is also UN Day of Solidarity with Palestine, a country still suffering from Israeli apartheid. Hopefully Aberdeen City Council will be flying the Palestine Flag that day."
            
11 am Assemble at St Nicholas Churchyard. Look out for the branch banner and join us to march behind it.

11.30am March down Union Street

12.15pm Rally at the Castlegate

There will be speakers from Trade Unions, Community Organisations and Political Parties at the Rally.

Thousands demand a just Scotland

Aberdeenshire UNISON members joined thousands of trade unionists and anti-poverty campaigners in Glasgow on Saturday 18th October to demand a just Scotland with decent work and decent pay, and an end to austerity, child poverty and foodbanks.

The branch banner joined hundreds of others as the march made its way from Glasgow Green to George Square. At the same time tens of thousands marched in London and in Belfast to make the same demands and to call for decent wages and an end to the low wage economy created by this Condem Government.

In Glasgow, the assembled marchers heard from a range of speakers calling for an end to attacks on the poorest and most vulnerable in our country whilst the richest continue to amass huge wealth which could clear the deficit many times over.

Branch calls on all members to join the March and Rally on 18th October 2014 in Glasgow to call for "A Just Scotland"

The branch is calling on all our members and their families and friends to join us at the "A Just Scotland" March and Rally in Glasgow on 18th October 2014 which will call for decent work and dignified lives.

 

The March and Rally is part of Challenging Poverty week and has been organised by the Scottish Trade Unions Congress (STUC) . The march will muster in Glasgow Green at 10am and will march off at 10.30am to a Rally in George Square.

See more information on the STUC website

 

It has been timed to coincide with the TUC's mass demonstration in London, "Britain needs a Pay Rise."

 

Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair said, "The Referendum has been and gone and the Scottish people have spoken. However if the independence debate did one thing that was to engage great swathes of the Scottish people, young and not so young, in the debate about what kind of Scotland we want to see, and to put social justice and equality high on the political agenda.

 

"Creating decent work and providing dignity for those who cannot work is at the heart of the battle for social justice and against austerity, and tackling inequality. Those of us who believe in this must come together now from both sides of the Referendum debate and work together to win social justice in Scotland.

May Day celebrates solidarity across borders as polticians, trades unionists and citizens take to the streets

 The banners and flags of dozens of trades unions and community groups made a colourful display as Aberdeenshire UNISON joined hundreds of marchers as they snaked down Union Street in Aberdeen to celebrate International Workers Day, and to call for solidarity across borders.

Shoppers again stopped to watch and wave, as the Guarana Drummers led the march from the West End to a rally at the Castlegate.


Here, speakers spoke passionately against the austerity measures of this UK Government which have hit ordinary people the hardest with cuts to welfare and poverty pay whilst the richest increase their wealth by £190 billion.

Click here for a full report of the March and Rally

Click here to see more photos on Picasa

Come along to the May Day March and Rally 2014 and celebrate solidarity across borders

Celebrate International Workers Day. We are calling on all UNISON members to join with us in a family friendly march down Union Street to demonstrate your opposition to austerity and to show solidarity across borders.

The 2014 May Day March and Rally will gather at Rubislaw Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen at 11am.

Organised by Aberdeen Trades Union Council (ATUC), it will march off at 11.30am down the full length of Union Street, to a Rally in the Castlegate at 12.15 where there will be a variety of speakers.

St Andrew’s Day March and Rally - Standing up for Equality, Justice and Respect

Christmas shoppers stopped to watch as trade unions and community groups, led by the rhythmic uplifting beat of the Guarana Drummers, marched along Union Street for equality, justice and respect.

The St Andrew’s Day March and Rally was organised by the Aberdeen Trades Union Council along with community groups including Aberdeen Anti Fascist Alliance and Aberdeen Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign. It made a colourful scene as the banners, UNISON's amongst them,  snaked down Union Street to the Rally at Marischall College.

Come along to the St Andrews Day March and Rally for Equality, Justice and Respect on 30th Nov in Aberdeen

"Stand together for a caring and compassionate society"

Please come along and join us at the St Andrew's Day March and Rally, on Saturday 30th November in Aberdeen, to give a clear message that racism and fascism are not welcome here in Aberdeenshire.
           
10.30 am Assemble at St Nicholas Churchyard. Look out for the branch banner and join us to march behind it.
11.00am March down Union Street
11.30am Rally outside Marischall College (latest information.)

There will be speakers from Trade Unions, Community Organisations and Political Parties at the rally. Kate Ramsden, Aberdeenshire UNISON Branch Chair will be chairing the Rally.

Come along to the St Andrews Day Anti-racism March and Rally "Stand together for a caring and compassionate society"

We are encouraging all our members to join us at the St Andrew's Day March and Rally, to give a clear message that racism and fascism are not welcome here in Aberdeenshire. 
   
There will be speakers from Trade Unions, Community Organisations and Political Parties. Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair will be chairing the Rally

10.30am Assemble at St Nicholas Churchyard. Look out for the branch banner and join us to march behind it.
11.00am March down Union Street
11.30am Rally in the Castlegate