Richie Venton, SSP National Workplace Organiser The public declaration in favour of a second referendum on Scottish independence by current general secretary of the STUC, Grahame Smith, is not only extremely welcome, but of profound significance. In truth, Grahame is applying the ABCs of democracy; the right of the Scottish people to determine their own future, […]
Richie Venton, SSP National Workplace Organiser Nobody likes to strike, nobody likes to lose 8 days’ salary, nobody likes to cancel classes. But honestly, I’m exhausted. That one comment from a striking UCU member encapsulates the conditions that have driven over 40,000 staff in 61 universities—twelve of them in Scotland—to take eight days’ strike action […]
Richie Venton, SSP National Workplace Organiser An unelected High Court judge today trampled basic, democratic workers’ rights in the muck, as he rushed to the defence of absentee multi-millionaire Royal Mail boss, Rico Back. Mr Justice Swift was quick to ban the right of 110,000 postal workers to go ahead with strike action in defence […]
SSP National Workplace Organiser Richie Venton comments on the recent ballot for strike action from Royal Mail workers, sending solidarity from the Scottish Socialist Party: Royal Mail Group workers have delivered a record breaking majority for strike action in defence of jobs, working conditions and the public service they proudly deliver. In the Communication Workers […]
by Richie Venton When is a radical new package of workers’ rights nothing of the kind? When it’s announced by a besieged Tory government, increasingly bombarded by public anger at the horrendous insecurity of jobs and workplace rights in Britain. Theresa May is today trumpeting a package of measures that her spin doctors describe as […]
by Ken Ferguson The news that tyre company Michelin are to close their Dundee plant with the loss of 850 jobs is a tremendous blow offsetting much of the optimistic economic talk around the recent opening of the V and A in the city Commenting on the announcement STUC General Secretary Grahame Smith said: ‘This […]
SSP National spokesperson Colin Fox today backed criticism of Scottish Transport Minister Michael Matheson for remarks in which he said a publicly owned ScotRail cannot happen until 2025 – at least. Mr Matheson’s predecessor – Humza Yousaf – stated that Scottish Ministers have already set up a company to step in and take over the […]
by Richie Venton, SSP national trade union organiser Main photo: Max McKay – Richie Venton, USDAW NEC member addresses 200-strong trade union solidarity rally at Strathclyde University. “No capitulation!” “Reject the deal and sustain the strike!” That was the angry message from the ranks of striking university staff to their own UCU union leadership after […]