People’s Assembly Scotland calls for ‘widespread social movement’ against council cuts

The People’s Assembly Scotland is calling for a widespread campaign to back councillors who abandon ‘austerity denial’, urging them to show ‘political leadership’ in defending local services from Scottish and UK government cuts.

The campaign group, to which UNISON Scotland is affiliated, has issued a pack for unions and community groups with a statement of principles, advice on street stalls and lobbying, and a model letter to councillors.

Phil McGarry, chair of the People’s Assembly Scotland, is calling on councillors to be honest about how cuts are damaging services: “We are calling for councillors to abandon austerity denial and be up front about cuts and the damage they are doing. They should publicly label cuts as ‘this service withdrawn due to austerity’

“We recognise that in order to take a stand, councillors will need broad based support and this initiative aims to build that at grassroots along with trade unions and other progressive bodies.”

Scotland united against austerity - Demo in Glasgow 20 June 2015

The STUC, in partnership with organisations comprising the People’s Assembly in Scotland will hold a major anti-austerity rally in George Square, Glasgow, on Saturday 20 June.

The event, now entitled, “Scotland United Against Austerity”, will take place on the same day as a number of rallies throughout the UK. The event in Glasgow will take the form of a rally and will be taken forward in co-operation with the People’s Assembly in Scotland and the main organisations involved in that coalition.  The event explicitly aims to involve a range of organisations opposed to austerity.

The main focus of the rally will be to unite opposition to austerity and provide a show of strength in opposition to the Tory Government.  You will also have noted the immediate announcement by David Cameron of proposed legislation to further attack trade union freedom.  Therefore, it has been agreed that trade union freedom and the need to join a union and get active as clear statement of opposition to austerity will be a key message for the event.

It is of immense importance that the plurality of the anti-austerity consensus in Scotland is represented on 20th June.  An organised trade union presence and trade union banners are particularly important.

Facebook event has been running  (https://www.facebook.com/events/1432486387055800/), over 2000 people responded in the first 24 hours to indicate attendance.

People's Assembly Campaign Handbook online

UNISON Scotland is supporting the People's Assembly and has contributed to a new campaigning guide issued by the People's Assembly Against Austerity Scotland. Find out more and get a copy at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/peoplesassembly/

The People's Assembly is a broad united national campaign against austerity, cuts and privatisation in our workplaces, community and welfare services, based on general agreement with the signatories’ Founding Statement. http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/scotland

People's Assembly Scotland speeches now on Youtube

Thanks to Cailean MacAulay and Tom Morrison, here are links to the speeches at the People's Assembly Scotland launch on 25 January.

Phil McGarry RMT Union
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IxGNv4KCSE
Andrew Murray UNITE the Union
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3BHhUiuEiM
Grahame Smith General Secretary STUC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DmbcEXWS1s
Ricky Tomlison Shewsbury 24
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYcWFyUQ3TU
Kevin McHugh PCS Union
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsL6EcRbm7U
John Stevenson UNISON Union
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmAthq00DXc
Contributions from the Floor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Cu1Bq6Dfmw

Fair demands for a fair society – Launch of the People’s Assembly Scotland

There was standing room only as Shrewsbury 24 campaigner Ricky Tomlinson joined trade unionists and community activists in Glasgow on Saturday to launch The People’s Assembly Scotland. Building on the National People’s assembly, launched in London in 2010, the People’s Assembly Scotland will bring together unions, trade union councils and local and national campaigning groups to fight the austerity driven policies of the UK Government.

Speaking at the launch, UNISON’s John Stevenson said that the purpose of the People’s Assembly Scotland was to involve and engage, inform and educate, but most of all to organise to build justified anger, then the will and the confidence to do something about it. See full story and pics at http://unisonactive.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/fair-demands-for-fair-society-launch-of.html