SCCS Rally for the Climate - 27 May at the Scottish Parliament

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland is holding a Rally for the Climate on Wednesday May 27 at the Scottish Parliament as part of its 'For the Love of' campaign.

UNISON members are urged to take part, even if you can't attend on the day, by telling First Minister Nicola Sturgeon what you love that is at risk from climate change, and that the Scottish Government needs to do more to cut emissions.

The Scottish Government has already missed the first three targets set under the Scottish Climate Change Act. 

Scotland is rightly proud of this world-leading legislation but, as the Committee on Climate Change highlighted in March, the Scottish Government must do more to deliver what is set out in the Act. 

This is also crucial to retain our credibility in urging other countries of the need for, and benefits of, the switch to a low carbon economy. Scotland should be making a strong call to action as part of the build up to the meeting of world leaders in Paris in December to thrash out a new international agreement on climate change.

As Lord Stern, and others, warned earlier this month, pledges made to date in advance of the United Nations talks will not be enough to keep global warming rises below the 2 degrees Celsius threshold.

Please support the rally and send your message to Nicola Sturgeon calling for action here, and for Scotland to be proactive in working for an ambitious deal in Paris. SCCS says that 'it's time to show the love.' 

SCCS partner The Climate Coalition is also holding a lobby of MPs and a rally at the House of Commons on Wednesday 17 June. It's a chance to put climate change at the top of the political agenda following the general election. Thousands are expected from across the UK. More details of how to take part are here. 

Queen's speech - UNISON reaction

Wed 8 May 2013

QUEEN’S SPEECH – UNISON REACTION

UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:

“There is little comfort in this programme for the young, the unemployed, the working poor, the sick, the vulnerable or the millions who have seen their living standards fall drastically since this coalition government came to power.

“It’s a typical Tory tactic to distract attention from the real problems we face by fostering a ‘blame immigrants’ culture, instead of tackling the huge divide between the rich and the poor.

“This government should face facts and accept that its policies are not working for the majority of people. What we need is a programme that will boost growth and create jobs not one that boosts insecurity and fear and creates division.”



More UNISON UK news here:
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/



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Council cultural trusts: UNISON warns of higher costs and loss of accountability

UNISON today warns MSPS examining local authority cultural trusts about higher costs and loss of accountability.

Regional Organiser Dougie Black is giving evidence to today's Scottish Parliament Education & Culture Committee.

As reported in today's Scotsman, UNISON has major concerns about the increasing use of trusts and arms length external organisations (ALEOs) to deliver local government services. Many cultural trusts run leisure, library and museums services.

Dougie told the Scotsman: "Our museums and galleries hold priceless artefacts owned by us all. UNISON is concerned that large sections of public service delivery are being shifted off to arms length bodies with very little research into the effectiveness of such change."

The key driver to setting up leisure trusts is to save money by obtaining charitable status to avoid paying VAT. But costs can rise and accountability is very weak.

Our evidence to the Committee is here.

Mark Bramah, of the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE), also submitted evidence about "important issues of governance, accountability and scrutiny", and stated that he was misquoted in the Scotsman report.

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Early years staff have vital role to play in children’s education, says UNISON

‘Early years staff have a vital role to play in children’s education’. That was the message from UNISON Scotland today ahead of a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s education committee in Edinburgh.