All the union news that's fit to blog...
You may have
spotted some good news about climate action in yesterday’s Programme for
Government, including action on phasing out new fossil fuel cars, investment in
active travel, drink deposit schemes and low carbon infrastructure. (UNISON
briefing here).
We particularly
welcome news of the Just Transition Commission, although we still need to hear
the details of it and some otherRead more…
UNISON members are being urged
to help make Scotland’s new Climate Change Act as strong as possible.
With other members of Stop
Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS), we are disappointed that the Scottish
Government’s proposals for the new Bill are not ambitious enough.
The SCCS Act for our Future
campaign has an easy online E Action. You can click here to email First Minister Nicola SturgeonRead more…
My Conference day started with a short jog up and down the famous Brighton beach. The weather was hot even at 7.30am.
At 8.30am we had our first UNISON NEC meeting to discuss and (hopefully) agree on any outstanding matters or policy positions.
Confe…Read more…
Last month I went to a well attended public meeting on this topic in Forest Gate Coffee7 and a Chatham House rules seminar in the City. This article today in Professional Pensions reflects what I think and said at those meetings.
John Gray says it’s b…Read more…
Theresa May says ‘Brexit means Brexit’, yet no one knows what Brexit will look like. The lack of a plan has caused unprecedented levels of political and economic uncertainty. It has also cast doubt of the future of the UK’s – indeed the EU’s – environmental and climate change policy. In…Read more…
The trade union movement asserted its commitment to developing an active energy and climate change strategy, but Congress agreed that this must not happen at the expense of jobs nor can any strategy…Read more…
I’ve written a report for rs21 which covers the highlights of Thursday’s business. It was a packed day, which included the momentous decision to back mandatory reselection for Labour MPs – something that would not have been supported a few weeks ago.
UNISON Scotland is supporting the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland mass lobby of MSPs at the Scottish Parliament on 29 September. Full details from SCCS are below, including how to register for the limited number of places, and how to send support if you can’t attend.
And if you’re a member interested in action on climate change, do join our Green Network. At our September meeting, we will beRead more…
#WED2016 It is World Environment Day on Sunday 5 June. A good day for the Scottish Government to cancel plans to cut Air Passenger Duty.
UNISON Scotland today urged the Scottish Government to prioritise protecting public services by axing its plans to first cut APD by 50%, then eventually abolish the tax.
In our response to the Scottish Government consultation on APD, closing today, weRead more…
Calling all UNISON members interested in climate change!Come to our next Green Network meeting in Glasgow – this Saturday, 21 May.We have a guest speaker – Jim Densham from Stop Climate Chaos Scotland. Come and find out the latest on tackling global warming and campaigning for a low carbon Scotland.
Tell us what you think we should be doing and/or what you are doing where you are.And join inRead more…
#stuc16 Trade unionists line up for a ‘just transition’ on Climate Day at the UNISON Scotland and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland Fringe Meeting at the STUC Congress in Dundee today. See also the SCCS Holyrood Election Online Debate, 7-8.30pm tonight. It will see the five political parties represented in the current Scottish Parliament questioned on their climate policies and plans for the nextRead more…
NOTE TO PICTURE DESKS: Photocall 12.30pm Monday. Details below.Embargo: 00:01 Monday 18 April Trade unions call for a low carbon Scotland Trade unions are today (Monday 18 April) calling for strong action on climate change, with policies to support workers affected in the switch to a low carbon economy.
On ‘Climate Day’, ahead of a Holyrood election online debate, trade unions say there must beRead more…
Tackling Scotland’s “disgraceful” fuel poverty scandal must be a top priority and will help fight climate change, UNISON said today.
New figures from the Existing Homes Alliance show that 62% of Scottish homes are “unhealthily cold”. The public services union works with the EHA, Energy Action Scotland, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and others in calling for a Warm Homes Act.
UNISON’s 2016Read more…
UNISON and Global Justice Now are holding a free community screening this Friday of the climate film This Changes Everything.
Join us from 5.30pm for the 6pm prompt screening on Friday 8 April at UNISON Scotland, 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow G2 6RX. All welcome. Hosted by our International Committee and Green Network, working with Global Justice Now.
Inspired by the Naomi Klein bestsellingRead more…
UNISON and Global Justice Now are holding a free community screening of the climate film This Changes Everything next month.
And the union is supporting Stop Climate Chaos Scotland’s Climate Day #AskClimateQ Holyrood election online evening debate on 18 April, as well as holding a joint fringe with SCCS at the STUC Congress in Dundee that lunchtime.
Yesterday the UK Committee on ClimateRead more…
Ask the climate question – Stop Climate Chaos Scotland’s online debate with political parties
Monday 18th April 2016, 7pm – 8.30pm
With elections in Scotland this May, use your voice to call on political parties to turn climate ambition into climate action.
Join us online from anywhere in Scotland on Monday 18th April at 7pm.
For many years now, all parties in the Scottish Parliament haveRead more…
There’s a new coalition in Scotland working for a just transition
to a new food system.
UNISON is hosting a
workshop on Monday, 7 March, at which the Scottish Food Coalition will launch a new report, ‘PLENTY’. A few places remain for interested NGOs and networks across all
sectors.
PLENTY: Food, Farming and
Health in a New Scotland describes a food system that is environmentallyRead more…
Reminder for all UNISON members interested in climate change!
Come to our next Green Network meeting in Glasgow – this Saturday, 27 February.
Guest speaker Ric Lander, from Friends of the Earth Scotland, will be speaking mainly on pensions disinvestment campaigns, but will be referring also to fracking and other important policy areas.
We will be discussing what is needed now following the UNRead more…
Calling all UNISON members interested in climate change!
Come to our next Green Network meeting in Glasgow on Saturday 27 February.
Guest speaker Ric Lander, from Friends of the Earth Scotland, will be speaking mainly on pensions disinvestment campaigns, but will be referring also to fracking and other important policy areas.
We will be discussing what is needed now following the UN ParisRead more…
UNISON Scotland is supporting the new Stop Climate Chaos Scotland campaign calling on Scotland’s political leaders to turn ambition into action.
2016 is election year in Scotland. And that means our political parties need to tell voters what they intend to do if they are elected.
After the December 2015 climate agreement in Paris, what matters now, across the world, is what actually happens asRead more…