Greens backing Nov 30 strike action

Posted on November 29, 2011

The Green MSPs today confirmed the party’s support for tomorrow’s coordinated strike action against UK Ministers’ assault on public sector working conditions. Patrick Harvie MSP, the party’s co-convenor, will take part in an STUC event with the leadership of Scottish Labour and with striking public sector staff in the morning, (1) before taking part in the march from the Usher Hall to Holyrood and then meeting Holyrood staff on the picket line around Parliament.

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

“Tomorrow is a day when politicians of all parties should be supporting the unions and their action, which comes with a stronger democratic mandate than the UK Ministers who are imposing these unfair and economically illiterate cuts to public sector pensions. The strikes are therefore a crucial statement of resistance, and I will be out with public sector staff in Glasgow in the morning and in Edinburgh in the afternoon.

“MSPs have a responsibility to back both Scotland’s public sector employees and the wider public they serve. It’d be better if all politicians would offer the support that unions have asked for, and not cross the picket line today, but the focus must remain on UK Ministers and their reckless and divisive attack on the public sector.”

Notes

1. This event will take place Wednesday 30 November between 10.00 am and 10.30 am, at the Story Telling Centre, Royal Mile, Edinburgh.

Poll: public back church plans for same-sex marriages

Posted on November 25, 2011

A poll published today by the Daily Mail shows remarkable support for churches who wish to conduct same-sex marriages, with 50% of Scots supporting the bid and just 36% opposed. (1)

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

“Taken alongside the widespread support for equal access to civil marriage, this is an extraordinary result, and shows a strong groundswell of support for those churches who want to marry same-sex couples. Increasingly, most Scots don’t regard same-sex couples as anything unusual: these couples are friends, family, colleagues and neighbours.

“On this issue the SNP have stood up to the vested minority interests and the remaining Dark Ages attitudes that have held Scotland back from reform on this issue. We will work with them, as will MSPs from other opposition parties, and I believe we will set an example that the rest of the UK will quickly follow.”

Notes

1. The poll of 1233 Scottish adults was conducted between 16 November and 18 November by Progressive Scottish Opinion. The question asked was:
“To what extent do you agree or disagree that gay couples should be allowed to marry in Scotland’s churches?”
Strongly agree: 19%
Agree: 31%
Neither agree nor disagree: 14%
Disagree: 18%
Strongly disagree: 18%

SNP and UK Government will form unholy alliance on strike day

Posted on November 17, 2011

The Green MSPs today condemned the decision by SNP Ministers to ignore representations from public sector staff and unions to close Holyrood during the day of strike action, 30 November, and instead to support the UK Coalition parties’ anti-union position.

Patrick MSP said:

It’s an utterly cynical move, and an abuse of the Scottish Government’s power, to schedule a debate about the strikes so that only MSPs who cross the picket lines are able to take part.

On November 30th, the country will see the strongest wave of coordinated action for generations, all to challenge the UK Coalition’s ideological and counter-productive cuts. On that day, the SNP and the Coalition parties will sit together as an unholy alliance on the wrong side of the picket lines. Is this really what the SNP stand for now?

No doubt there will be empty rhetoric from Ministers about supporting the right to strike – despite knowing that Parliament can only meet if employees and MSPs alike cross the picket lines. The SNP claim they’re on the other side of the argument from the Tories and LibDems. Wrong. The picket line is the argument, and the SNP have picked a side, the same side as the parties primarily responsible for this brutal attack on pay and pensions.

The unions have been very clear about how MSPs can support them – by joining them at pickets and rallies right across the country. That’s the work we should be doing on November 30th.