The Scottish elections on 3 May 2007 are an opportunity for trade unionists in Scotland to vote for the Scotland in which we want to live and work.
In launching our Manifesto for the elections “7 for 2007”, the STUC General Council set out a vision of a Scotland where our social and environmental well-being sits easily alongside the pursuit of sustainable economic growth; where a dynamic private sector economy sits easily alongside comprehensive, quality public services – publicly owned and run; where equality and diversity prevail and extensive civic participation is the norm; and where community and cooperation are valued and where unions can play their role as a full social partner.
With the right policies and focus, our devolved Scottish Parliament, working closely with Scottish local government, will make that vision a reality.
The STUC was at the forefront of the campaign for a devolved Scottish Parliament, believing that devolution would be good for Scottish workers; it would mean Scottish solutions would be devised to address Scottish problems and would bring government closer to the people.
Although the STUC and trade unions have had differences with the Labour led Executive, the constructive relationship that has been developed since devolution has resulted in a range of union demands being delivered.
These include: the Emergency Workers Act and the violence against workers campaign; the new Health and Safety Action Plan; the PPP workforce protocol; the reinstatement of funding for union rep training the creation of the Scottish Union Learning Fund; the amendments to the Damages Act that ensure mesothelioma sufferers and their families are properly compensated for their loss and suffering; support for our One Workplace, Close the Gap and School Visits initiatives; and the establishment of the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service.
In the next four years, Scotland needs a Parliament and Executive with a comprehensive workplace agenda and a focus on delivering the people’s priorities; not the narrowly focused and largely irrelevant priorities of the employer organisations. It has been hugely disappointing to witness all the main parties attempt to outbid each other on reducing business rates and regulation during the current campaign. It is particularly worrying that the parties apparently see no contradiction in promoting deregulation alongside sustainability.
The General Council recognises that many of our affiliates have worked closely with the Scottish Labour Party in developing a policy agenda which addresses key workplace issues, builds on what has already been achieved through devolution and, if implemented, would make a real difference to the lives of Scottish workers and their families.
The STUC has consistently advocated a comprehensive role for Scottish local government, and its democratically elected representatives, in the provision of public services.
As the new electoral system is likely to reshape the political composition of local government in Scotland, a priority for the next Scottish Executive should be to establish an effective relationship between central and local government. Such a relationship will be essential if the priorities of working people, as set out in the STUC’s “7 for 2007” Manifesto, are to be achieved.
Congress believes that establishing this relationship and delivering on the priorities of the working people of Scotland will demand the full attention of our devolved Parliament and the Scottish Executive without the distraction of a long drawn out independence referendum campaign.
Congress believes that in the elections for the Scottish Parliament on 3 May the choice for the people of Scotland is either to build on the achievements of devolution, or to divert attention and resources to a divisive debate about the complete political separation of Scotland from Northern Ireland, England, and Wales.
Whilst recognising the differences that that there have been in the past and will inevitably be in the future between the STUC and the Labour Party, the General Council believes that the election of Labour MSP’s, a Labour Scottish Executive and Labour Councillors, who understand trade unionism and its role in the workplace and wider society, would be in the best interests of Scottish workers and their families.
The General Council reiterates its abhorrence of the racist British National Party. It is deeply disturbing that the BNP is standing candidates on the Scottish Parliament regional lists and for Council seats. The BNP’s vile and racist politics, spreading lies and misinformation, should never be endorsed or legitimised in any way. Congress urges Scotland’s voters to give the fascist BNP the clear message at the ballot box that Scotland rejects racism.
The General Council encourages all of the political parties to campaign positively and engage the Scottish electorate on the issues that really matter to working people.
Voter turnout on Election Day is vital and the General Council urges all communities in Scotland, including trade union members and their families, to make every effort to vote on 3 May.