STUC Congress 2011 report

Shortly before the 114th Annual Congress of the STUC was due to commence, the Wick Wants Work Campaign, which had planned to have a presence on the Fringe of the Conference, were contacted and invited to participate in the opening session of Congress as an "exemplary campaign uniting workers and communities", that dovetailed perfectly with the STUC's primary campaign of the moment, "There is a Better Way".


Greatly honoured by this invitation, the campaign gratefully accepted, and in a very well received contribution, your correspondent took advantage of the session to raise awareness amongst the 350+ key Trade Union Activists and Campaigners about the issues affecting Wick and Caithness.

As the week progressed, campaign volunteers Russell Sanderson and Ann Curran gave up their time to provide delegates with stickers and briefings, and an impromptu photo opportunity outside the Congress Hall saw next Year's President of the British TUC, Michael Leahy of Community, join Campaigners from across Scotland with the Wick Wants Work Banner (held proudly by Dave Alexander and John Deighan of Thurso & Wick Trades Council).

The third day of Congress saw an emergency motion on the Campaign, raised by the Public & Commercial Services Union, carried with the Unanimous support of Delegates, and givinga final boost to the campaign before Congress closed.

Throughout Congress, Campaigners in the Hall, and the volunteers staffing the Campaign stall, were constantly approached with messages of support from across Scotland, messages that mean a lot to those worried for their livelihoods in Wick and across Caithness, with Alex Salmond again voicing his support for the Campaign following his guest speech.

The STUC gave a shot in the arm to the campaign, and it is hoped that at the Scottish Parliamentary Hustings tomorrow night, the momentum gained can be used to exert pressure on candidates to commit to the Campaign!