Elaine Smith MSP, Jamie Hepburn MSP & Neil Findlay MSP lead Debate on People's Charter and STUC Better Way Campaign in Scottish Parliament

There is a Better Way Campaign

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott): The final item of business today is a members’ business debate on motion S4M-00003, in the name of Elaine Smith, on there is a better way. The debate will be concluded without any questions being put.

Motion debated,

That the Parliament supports the STUC There is a Better Way campaign; believes that cuts are neither unavoidable nor inevitable and that they would actually threaten economic recovery across Scotland and impact on areas such as Coatbridge and Chryston; considers that a sensible and sustainable response to the current economic crisis is contained in the People’s Charter; understands that public sector cuts are likely to have a disproportionate effect on women, children and disabled people, and would welcome widespread support for the STUC campaign and local campaigns such as those in North Lanarkshire and West Lothian.

Unite Gen Sec favourite Len McCluskey says People's Charter is alternative plan we need

"We have to offer an alternative, and we have one - it's called the People's Charter, which is both Unite and TUC policy."

Unite's leadership hopeful Len McCluskey talks to Emily Mann of the New Statesman

The coffee table in the office of Len McCluskey, an assistant general secretary of Unite and the best-known of four candidates in the union's leadership election this autumn, is empty but for a small chess set, the pieces neatly arranged ready for a match. I ask if he plays often. Oh no, he says, as if he's barely moved a pawn. "But perhaps," he adds light-heartedly, "Derek should have made me play to decide on the candidacy."

It is an affectionate-seeming swipe at the current joint general secretary Derek Simpson, who chose to back Les Bayliss as his successor when he retires in December. McCluskey is the preferred candidate of Unite's other general secretary, Tony Woodley, with whom the successful candidate will have to work as "general secretary designate" until Woodley retires a year later in December 2011, after which - finally - there will be only one.

The change, for many, cannot come soon enough. Simpson and Woodley have shared the leadership of Britain's largest union since it was formed through the merger of Amicus and the Transport and General Workers' Union in 2007, but they have disagreed on many things besides their successor. McCluskey tells me that his campaign is going well - "I am humbled by the response from all sectors of the union" - but members everywhere have expressed frustration and anger that the integration of the union has not been properly completed.

"Ex-Amicus and ex-T&G shop stewards are now working well together and the benefits are clear," he says. "But at the top of the union, we still appear to have two different approaches, and that won't change until we elect a single general secretary." A self-confessed member of the union's left, McCluskey is standing as the "unity" candidate and insists that, if elected, he will drive through the integration in "a matter of weeks".

People's Charter at TUC Manchester 2010

People's Charter supporters are at this year's TUC in Manchester (13-16th September) as delegates and supporters. If you want more information about the Charter at this year’s TUC or can volunteer to help on the Charter stall please contact info@thepeoplescharter.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 078 1339 0063.
 
More info on the People's Charter website

Morning Star: STUC urged to back People's Charter - April 2010

Monday 19 April 2010

by Malcolm Burns in Dundee

The STUC has rallied behind the principles of the People's Charter calling for the current failed economic and social model to be ditched.

RMT delegate Phil McGarry slammed the politicians and financiers who seem mystified as to how the system has failed.

"If you think we're gonna pay for it, you've got another thing coming," he said. "The working people in this country will not accept redundancies, they will not accept terms and conditions or pension rights being eroded, they will not accept public services being slashed."

People's Charter supported by TUC - September 2009

19 Sep 2009

The Trades Union Congress has agreed to support the People's Charter, which sets out a programme for challenging the economic crisis and for a fairer society.

Motion 32 - People's Charter