Bhopal: Terrible hardship but incredible courage and kindness

Dec 3, 2014By

#Bhopal30 This is the day 30 years ago when the Union Carbide industrial disaster claimed 25,000 lives, left 120,000 chronically ill and continues to maim subsequent generations.

The anniversary rally took place along with a march by all the families and supporters to the Bhopal plant walls.

An excellent rally was planned and policed by the Bhopal group and supporters and this was achieved withRead more…

Dec 3, 2014

Torchlight march and Bhopal Disaster Museum

Dec 2, 2014By

#Bhopal30 From Sam Macartney and Scott Donohoe in Bhopal: Tuesday began with a national solidarity meeting with families and NGOs who support the campaign.Then a visit to the workplace of the women who have taken the fight to the courts and the Indian government. They have their own trade union now but they still haven’t received justice for the disaster. Next we visited the new Bhopal People’sRead more…

Dec 2, 2014

Fasting in solidarity with Bhopal families

Dec 2, 2014By

UNISON’s Sam Macartney will be joining friends and families of the Bhopal disaster on a 30 hour hunger fast from midnight on Tuesday until 6.00am on Thursday. "It is the least I can do after what we have seen", reported Sam. Clearly moved by what he had seen, Scott Donohoe commented: "The levels of poverty in Bhopal are truly shocking."

UNISON Scotland’s Sam Macartney and Scott Donohoe are partRead more…

Dec 2, 2014

Support the Bhopal Medical Appeal

Dec 1, 2014By

Update from Sam Macartney in Bhopal: Yes I was on a demo in India, and I and all the trade union delegates to Bhopal were honoured and and very pleased to walk with familyies and friends of the Bhopal campaign. We had joined the demo after being shown around the Bhopal Sambhavna medical aid clinic and the great facilities they have and the excellent work they are doing to support the victims ofRead more…

Dec 1, 2014

Candlelight vigil held for Bhopal’s second generation victims

Dec 1, 2014By

From Sam Macartney and Scott Donohoe in Bhopal leading up to the 3 December anniversary of the disaster: 

Many events have been organised over the next three days to remember the victims of this disaster. Proceedings started on Sunday with the Mela of alternatives, an event looking at the way forward to aid the victims in the campaign. This was followed by a seminar on the medical aid issuesRead more…

Dec 1, 2014

Cuts dont work

Nov 28, 2014By

UNISON Scotland’s analysis of the impact of austerity economics on Scotland’s public services is highlighted in a column in today’s Scotsman.

Dave Watson argues that, "Our public debt continues to rise, productivity is low, wages are dropping, inequality is increasing and youth unemployment is high.The idea that our present economic woes are a crisis stemming from out-of-control public financesRead more…

Nov 28, 2014

UNISON statement on Smith Commission

Nov 27, 2014By

“While there are certainly positive elements in these proposals, the package as a whole falls short of our aspirations contained in our submission to the Commission, with particular regard to job creation,
employment regulation, equalities and minimum wage. These are areas required if inequalities in society are to be addressed. We will continue to press for this”, said Mike Kirby, UNISONRead more…

Nov 27, 2014

UNISON Scotland statement on First Minister’s programme for Government

Nov 26, 2014By

Wed 26 Nov 2014

Mike Kirby, Scottish secretary of UNISON, said ‘UNISON is Scotland’s largest trade union and we welcome the First Minister’s programme for government. There was much in Nicola Sturgeon’s statement to commend.

We welcome her commitment to protect public services and to increase NHS funding; her commitment to the living wage and to mitigate the problems of welfare reform; andRead more…

Nov 26, 2014

UNISON condemns chief constable statement that it is ‘inevitable that more police staff face further jobs cuts next year’

Nov 26, 2014By

Wed 26 Nov 2014

UNISON, the trade union for police civilian staff, has condemned the statement by the Chief Constable of Police Scotland that more police staff will be made redundant.

George McIrvine, secretary of UNISON police staff Scotland branch said:"This shows UNISON is right. Civilian police staff are facing big job losses and are the victims of the Scottish Governments policy toRead more…

Nov 26, 2014