Trade Unions against the G8

[frank ward]

TRADE UNIONS AGAINST THE G8

PUBLIC MEETING - all welcome

Wednesday 8th June 7pm
Transport & General Workers Union Office
290 Bath Street GLASGOW
Speakers:
Rozanne Foyer, TGWU
Peter Murray, BBC NUJ
Kenny Ross, Chair Scottish FBU
Plus speakers from STUC & UNISON

The leaders of the G8 richest countries in the world meet at the exclusive golfing retreat of Gleneagles next month. Thirty years of G8 summits -formerly G6 and G7 - have brought an increase in inequality and poverty, global instability, war and environmental destruction.

The G8 Summit in Scotland will be a chance for thousands of people to raise our voices for an end to poverty and for a better world. The Make Poverty History March through Edinburgh on Saturday 2nd July promises to be Scotland's biggest ever protest.

The trade union movement continues to play a key role in campaigns for social justice and peace.

The STUC Conference this year passed policy supporting a range of events around the G8 including:

* Saturday 2nd July Make Poverty History Demonstration in Edinburgh
* Sunday 3rd July G8 Alternative Summit in Edinburgh
* Monday 4th July Demonstrate against Trident at Faslane
* Tuesday 5th July Demonstrate at Dungavel Detention Centre.
* Wednesday 6th July Demonstrate against the G8 at Gleneagles.

This meeting has been called by the TGWU to help publicise and build these events. Please encourage workmates and friends to come along and take part.

If you want to attend G8 protests but need transport to any of the above, or would like to organise your own local meeting on this issue, contact Frank on 01862 811233

[scotsboy]

How ironic that the TGWU actually sponsored Tony Blair.

[kenimac1]

What a bunch of hypocrites! Trade union members almost entirely depend on the very people they are demonstrating against for their livelihoods. Make your mind up which side of the fence you're on.

[frank ward]

Kennimac1 says
"Trade union members almost entirely depend on the very people they are demonstrating against for their livelihoods. Make your mind up which side of the fence you're on."

He is correct. In general, workers are dependent upon employers for their livelihood. We can leave one employer but then have to sell our labour to another employer.

This is because of the growth of industrial capitalism over the last 300 years, which replaced feudalism and virtually eliminated skilled artisans as a class.

Working for employers (out of necessity) but fighting employers to claw back some of the surplus value they have extracted out of you (again out of necesity) does not make you a 'hypocrite' as Kennimac describes trade union members. It is just part of the Class War that has raged for centuries, and will continue to rage.

So, kennimac, are we to go cap-in-hand for the rest of our lives? I think not. You might have decided that you're on the employers' 'side of the fence', but thankfully there are millions of people around the world who are willing to fight for better conditions and an end to the greed, corruption, war and exploitation inherent in an economic system that is literally destroying the planet.

[frank ward]

Monday, 6th June, Spectrum Centre, Inverness at 7.45pm.

Penny Howard from G8 Alternatives will speak on the politics of the G8 and we will be discussing how to build for the G8 protests next month.

Organised by Scottish Socialist Party. Some free transport to/from the meeting. Tel 01862 811233

[scotsboy]

Some free transport to/from the meeting

Not fossil fuel burning machines that contribute to global warming, polution of the atmosphere and use that stuff that was the cause for us going to war in Iraq, I trust.