July 2008

1st : Ballots for industrial action underway

Ballots for industrial action underway in Scottish Local Government and Scottish Government staff. Four of Scotland’s largest unions have launched ballots for industrial action in response to unacceptable pay offers from local and Scottish Government. In local government GMB, UNISON and UNITE will ballot members in July. The Public Commercial Services union is calling on its members to support a two day strike against the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Pay Policy, which allows only 2% in the cost of living increase.

2nd : Stockline Inquiry commences

The ICL Public Inquiry investigating the circumstances that led to the deaths of nine people on May 11 2004 gets underway at Community Central Halls on 2 July. Many of the families of the workers who died have been supported in their fight for the widest possible inquiry as to why they lost their loved ones and as to why the events of May 11 at the ICL factory in Maryhill can have such a devastating effect on the lives of the bereaved and injured. Daily reports will be provided and can be found on the <a target="_blank" title=" (external link in new window)" href="http://www.theiclinquiry.org/index.aspx "> Inquiry website </a>

8th : STUC concerns for BME workers

STUC <a title="Fears minority staff will suffer in recession - Sunday Herald" href="http://www.sundayherald.com/business/businessnews/display.var.2381262.0.fears_minority_staff_will_suffer_in_recession.php">raises concerns</a> that Black and Minority Ethnic workers will suffer particularly badly as the economic downturn continues.

17th : STUC welcomes landmark victory for Britain’s six million carers

STUC today welcomed the decision of the European Court of Justice to uphold the right of a woman who was denied time off work to look after her disabled son.

10th : STUC welcomes IPPR Barnett Formula report

The STUC has welcomed the IPPR contribution to debate on the funding of devolution

16th : STUC calls for support for striking public sector workers in England and Wales

The STUC has called for support for public sector workers taking industrial action in defence of living standards.

17th : 'Local Income Tax' plan rejected

The STUC has today called for fairer local tax bands and to retain a property tax, rejecting the Scottish Government’s current 'Local Income Tax' plans which would remove accountability and be financially unsustainable.

22nd : CIVIL SERVICE UNION CALLS ON SWINNEY TO THINK AGAIN ON PAY

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) in both the Scottish Government and Registers of Scotland have voted for industrial action in opposition to Scottish Ministers pay policy.

23rd : First Stage of ICL Inquiry Concludes

The first stage of the Public Inquiry into the explosion at the ICL plastics factory in Maryhill, more commonly referred to as Stockline, on May 11 2004 has now concluded.

24th : STUC and Scottish Government Project on Preventing Workplace Violence Highlighted at UK Hazards Conference

Linda Shanahan from the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives and Ian Tasker from the STUC presented two workshops on preventing workplace violence to the 2008 UK Hazards Conference at Keele University 19th to 20th July 2008.