STUC | Newsroom

STUC Launches Workers’ Manifesto for the Scottish Parliament Elections

Sean McLaughlan — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 22:00:00 +0100

STUC Launches Workers’ Manifesto for the Scottish Parliament Elections

Final sitting day of the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament

Sean McLaughlan — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:02:00 +0000

Commenting on the final sitting day of the Scottish Parliament’s sixth session, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said:

Announcement on Vestas offshore wind facility

Sean McLaughlan — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:50:00 +0000

Commenting on the news that Danish engineering firm Vestas look set build an offshore wind facility in Scotland, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said:

“The proposal from Vestas to create a hub and nacelle factory should be welcomed. With the investment subject to securing orders from developers, the onus is on the Scottish and UK Government to finally require these companies to build up Scotland’s manufacturing if they want access to our wind.

STUC: Scotland’s Trade Unions Welcome Sectoral Bargaining in Social Care

Dan Schirn — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:57:00 +0000

STUC: Scotland’s Trade Unions Welcome Sectoral Bargaining in Social Care

ROYAL MAIL CRISIS THREATEN SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ELECTION WARN UNIONS

Sean McLaughlan — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:26:00 +0000

The union representing Royal Mail workers across Scotland and Scotland’s largest trade union body has issued an urgent warning over the “viability” of the upcoming Scottish Parliament election as the postal service faces a “perilous” future.

In a letter seen by the Daily Record, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer has contacted UK Government Secretary of State Peter Kyle over “grave concerns” about the future of Royal Mail, with their Optimised Delivery Model (ODM) agenda leading to increased delayed, significant backlogs and high staff turnover.

In a briefing compiled by the Communications Workers Union (CWU), the trade union representing Royal Mail workers, information showed that the companies model of prioritising parcels over mail is leading to “significant backlogs of mail in many sorting offices and mail hubs” and that “the lack of staff is a major risk that could compromise Royal Mail’s ability to deliver party election materials and postal ballot papers to the agreed standard.”

STUC Statement: Iran and conflict in West Asia

Sean McLaughlan — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 08:20:00 +0000

The STUC condemns the war initiated by the US and Israel being waged in the West Asia. This not only contravenes international law but continues to expand on a daily basis. The use of force outside clear United Nations authorisation represents a breach of the fundamental principles of peaceful settlement of disputes enshrined in the UN Charter.

Ardrossan Harbour and Ferguson Marine announcements ‘positive’ for workers

Sean McLaughlan — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:56:00 +0000

Reacting to the news that the Scottish Government looks set to nationalise Ardrossan Harbour and that work has been secured at Ferguson Marine, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said:

“This is a welcome move from the Scottish Government that could benefit workers, communities and the surrounding areas. We are pleased that the Transport Secretary has worked with our movement and listened to the relentless campaigning from local communities, supported by unions, to nationalise the harbour. Added to the welcome announcement of a direct award at Ferguson Marine, this is a positive day for workers and the maritime industry.

“Adopting an interventionist approach, with governments taking a direct stake in our national infrastructure, is the solid foundation required for a proper industrial strategy.

“Too often in the past, public money has been poured into contracts without robust guarantees on pay, conditions, or training. That cannot happen again and the future of the harbour and Ferguson Marine must now prioritise decent employment with fair work conditions that benefits Scotland’s workforce and surrounding communities.

END

STUC response to the final report of the Just Transition Commission

Sean McLaughlan — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:57:00 +0000

Responding to the final report of the Just Transition Commission, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said:

“The Commission’s final report, aptly named, shows that there really is no time to lose. It’s time to do much more, much faster, or the Scottish Government will lose what little faith workers still have in the political promises of a just transition.

Scottish Budget: real investment in our communities is still sorely lacking

Sean McLaughlan — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:04:00 +0000

Responding to the Scottish Budget, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said:

Budget must prioritise ‘Scotland not political survival’

Sean McLaughlan — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 13:14:00 +0000

STUC: Budget must prioritise ‘Scotland not political survival’

STUC Statement on the US Attack on Venezuela

Dan Schirn — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:06:00 +0000

Commenting on the US attack on Venezuela, Roz Foyer, General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) said:

“The US attack on Venezuela is an unprovoked attack on a sovereign state. It is in breach of international law and is further proof that the Trump administration is willing to undertake flagrant acts of aggression to pursue its own interests.

In the long-run the beneficiaries of these acts will not be ordinary working class people – whether in Venezuela, the USA or around the world. It will be big business and the executive class.

Our brothers and sisters in the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) are on the front-line defending sovereignty and self-determination, democracy and human rights. Alongside the International Trade Union Confederation they have issued a statement condemning the US military intervention. We call on our political leaders – at Scottish and UK level – to do likewise.

It is time our politicians showed a backbone and stood up for truth and justice – calling out Trump’s bully-boy tactics before it’s too late. The peace and security of the world depend on it.”

TUCA and ITUC statement: https://www.ituc-csi.org/ituc-tuca-venezuela

16 Days of Activism on Gender Based Violence

Sean McLaughlan — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 15:20:00 +0000

Gender based Violence is a workplace and a trade union issue. Physical, emotional, and sexual violence is rooted in gender inequality and power imbalances. Trade unions can play a crucial role in providing a platform for collective action, legal advocacy, and systemic change.

The STUC Women’s Committee’s “Still Silent” report 2024, reported that online abuse has worsened and instances of sexual harassment has stayed the same since the first survey in 2022 “Silence is Compliance”. The trade union movement stands resolute to combat the normalisation of violence against women and girls. We recognise that our strength lies with intersectional solidarity, understanding that patriarchal narratives around masculinity damage women and the LGBT+ community. The STUC Women’s Committee and the STUC LGBT+ Committee are committed to promote concepts of progressive masculinity and campaign for targeted systemic action to tackle gender based violence across Scotland.

Where institutions or employers platform narratives which purposely seek to discredit GBV survivors or convictions, they ignore the harm that this will cause to those directly impacted, create a hostile work and learning environment for all women and for all survivors of sexual violence and they ignore the reality that reporting of domestic abuse and gender based violence remains persistently low.

We urge all further and higher education institutions to engage with EmilyTest, the only charity dedicated to tackling GBV in the education context. EmilyTest’s GBV Charter for Universities and Colleges is a Scottish Government-funded, evidence-based, peer-reviewed framework based on research with hundreds of staff and students, asking the question ‘would your institution pass the Emily Test?’. It forms the first framework of minimum standards and best practice for GBV prevention, intervention, and support in the education sectors, created in memory of Emily Drouet. The Charter has now expanded from Scotland to England and has undergone impact & evaluation review. Institutions can pledge, join a network, and/or ‘take the Emily Test’. Find out more and book a meeting via the EmilyTest website: https://www.emilytest.org/charter-about/ . Charter applications are open year-round.

The STUC Women’s Committee and the STUC LGBT+ Committee give our wholesale support to the important work being undertaken by EmilyTest and endorse their GBV charter, noting also the excellent ongoing activism and work of trade union affiliates, such as UCU, who are working to secure actions to tackle GBV in higher education. The UCU sexual violence task group report recently highlighted how prevalence the issue is in the sector and we would also commend the report and it’s recommendations: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/10812/Sexual-violence-task-group.

“GAME CHANGER” CULTURE FAIR WORK TASK FORCE REPORT

Sean McLaughlan — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 10:40:00 +0000

Exploited workers in the arts and culture sector have been handed a lifeline today as an independent report into working conditions and practices within the sector has been labelled a “game-changer” by Scotland’s top trade union body.

The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has welcomed the ‘Independent Culture Fair Work Task Force Report and Recommendations’ saying it “ends the excuses” from the Scottish Government and implores them to radically reform Scotland’s arts and culture sector to embed Fair Work practices.

The recommendaitons, which include the establilshment of a Fair Work Delivery Group, a Resolution Disputes Board and a Fair Work Fund, amongst other outcomes, follow the STUC’s calls within their ‘Freelance and Forgotten’ investigation published earlier this year.

The STUC report found that amongst workers in the creative arts sector, 69% had experienced issues relating to late payment for work, 33% had not been paid for freelance work undertaken whilst a staggering 53% had experienced, or seen, bullying, harassment or sexual harassment.

Great British Energy Strategic Plan “important break” in energy policy

Sean McLaughlan — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:17:00 +0000

Responding to the Great British Energy Strategic Plan published today, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said:

Let’s Change the Act - STUC Women’s Committee welcomes Abortion Law Review

Sean McLaughlan — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:02:00 +0000

The STUC women’s committee welcome the final report of the Scottish Government Abortion Law Review Expert Group which identified the need for a review of the current law stating:

BUDGET A STEP FORWARD FOR LABOUR

Sean McLaughlan — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:31:00 +0000

Responding to the Budget from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said:

“GENERATION DEFINING” BUDGET MUST DELIVER FOR WORKERS

Sean McLaughlan — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 09:27:00 +0000

Scotland’s largest trade union body has issued a stark warning ahead of the Chancellor’s budget calling on Rachel Reeves to “deliver for workers” as the UK Government sets out, what the STUC call, a “generation defining” budget.

STUC WOMEN ‘DEMAND BETTER’ AT MANIFESTO LAUNCH AHEAD OF ELECTION

Sean McLaughlan — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:32:00 +0000

Women trade unionists are today “demanding better” from politicians ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections as the STUC Women’s Committee launch their manifesto during STUC Women’s Conference.

The manifesto: ‘Women Demand Better’ sets out clear demands in expanding free childcare, ending sexual harassment, scrapping the two-child benefit cap and eliminating gender-based violence, will be announced during day one of the Women’s Conference.

The annual conference, the largest gathering of women trade unionists throughout Scotland, follows the Scotland Demands Better march and rally in Edinburgh last week which saw the STUC Women’s Committee and the newly launched Women Against the Far Right Scotland march against hatred, division and violence.

Commenting on the conference, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said:

“Staggering” 20% rise in the gender pay gap

Sean McLaughlan — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:27:00 +0000

“Staggering” 20% rise in the gender pay gap

FAIR WORK RISING FOR SCOTLAND’S CREATIVE SECTOR

Sean McLaughlan — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:26:00 +0000

Almost 30 employers across Scotland’s creative industries have signed a trade union pledge to support fair work and conditions within the sector according to a trade union body.

The STUC, Scotland’s largest trade union organisation, revealed the news as the Scottish Government Culture Fair Work Taskforce looks set to announce their recommendations on how to improve fair work in Scotland.

Fair Work, the Scottish Government strategy for improving standards and working conditions throughout Scotland’s workplaces, is currently under review by the Scottish Government alongside a review of Creative Scotland.

The pledge, the ‘Fair Work for Freelancers checklist’, devised by the STUC and creative unions throughout the sector, calls for greater pay security, clearer guidance on royalties and better access for trade unions.