Latest news with #ScottishTradesUnionCongress
Spectator
4 days ago
- Business
- Spectator
Union chief in second home hypocrisy row
Well, well, well. The general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress has found herself at the centre of a rather embarrassing scandal. It transpires that Roz Foyer – who has repeatedly blasted second home ownership – owns a total of, er, five homes, including a flat in Spain as well as a £100,000 plot of land. Talk about hypocrisy, eh? As revealed by the Mail on Sunday, Foyer – who earns up to six figures a year – lives in a £280,000 four-bedroom home in north-west Glasgow. On top of this, however, she has a £240,000 flat in Edinburgh, a £145,000 terraced house in Glasgow, a £125,000 Spanish flat that she rents out for a staggering £1,000 a week and a £150,000 holiday cottage on the Isle of Jura. More than that, just three months ago Foyer purchased a plot of unused land for £100,000. Alright for some! The revelations may be a little painful for Foyer, who has publicly slammed second home owners for worsening the housing and cost-of-living crisis.
Press and Journal
30-04-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen jobs warning as anger grows at Grangemouth refinery closure
The closure of Grangemouth signals a warning for industrial jobs across the oil and gas heartlands of Aberdeen, according to worried union leaders. Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, outlined concerns about the knock-impact of refinery closure and the need for an urgent industrial strategy to save jobs. 'For us, Grangemouth was the test of a 'just transition',' she told the P&J's politics podcast, The Stooshie, published on Wednesday. The long-promised 'just transition' refers to government promises to ease the move from oil and gas-reliant jobs to greener energy. Ms Foyer said politicians need to step up efforts or risk livelihoods after a 'valiant' campaign by the Unite union, which offered cheaper solutions for Scotland's last refinery. 'What we've seen is our governments' utter failure, at UK and Scottish level, to keep that site open,' she added. 'If that's their idea of a just transition, our movement has grave concerns about the whole of oil and gas, and that's an awful position to be in.' Ms Foyer found positives in the Labour government's GB Energy utility investment project, but her confidence is 'at a low ebb'. Petroineos said in September that refining activities at Grangemouth would end in 2025. In recent months, hundreds of workers have taken voluntary redundancy while a number of compulsory redundancies have been made. A significant report commissioned by the Scottish and UK governments, known as Project Willow, aimed to chart a future for the site in low-carbon energy. But the report said this would require around £3.5 billion of private investment. Petroineos has said the refinery is loss-making and has rejected claims from unions that the site could easily transition into a hub for producing sustainable aviation fuel. On Tuesday, First Minister John Swinney said the closure was a sad day for Scotland. 'The Scottish Government will work to secure a future for the Grangemouth community and agreement to the Acorn Carbon Capture project is essential,' he added. Brian Leishman, the Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, said Scotland is the 'victim of industrial vandalism'. Mr Leishman told the Commons: 'I don't want anyone in this chamber to dare mention a 'just transition', because we all know that the Conservatives when in power and the SNP currently in Holyrood did nothing to avert this catastrophic decision happening.' Listen to the full 20-minute interview on The Stooshie.
The National
29-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Dundee University 'backtracks' on job cuts in new plan
Due to a £35 million deficit, the university had initially said it would need to shed 632 full time equivalent (FTE) positions, which would impact around 700 members of staff. But under new proposals devised and released on Tuesday, 'up to 300' FTE will now be lost through a voluntary redundancy scheme. READ MORE: Scottish university staff set to strike at troubled institution Previously, the university had been unable to rule out compulsory redundancies. Under the new plan, the institution will also seek to borrow cash, as well as changing to a new operating model through the 're-configuration of our academic units and professional services'. But on Tuesday, principal Professor Shane O'Neill said the new plan will need to be backed by 'significant additional public funding'. 'A new alternative approach was presented to the university court this morning and they have given their endorsement to this as a revised direction of travel towards financial sustainability,' he said. O'Neill said: 'There are still several challenging steps to be taken in order to clear this pathway to progress. 'We also need to ensure that the steps we take do succeed in allowing us to access commercial lending, as that will be essential for long-term sustainability. 'The proposed route forward will require significant additional public funding. We are engaged in discussions, through the Scottish Funding Council, as we look to secure that support over the next two years, including any related conditions and assurances. 'Further liquidity support funding may also be required. READ MORE: Green MSP becomes rector of struggling Dundee University 'We are now working to develop the full details of the proposed pathway and on plans for implementation. This will include details of a voluntary severance scheme. 'We will continue to engage with staff, students and union leaders as we consult on the details of this alternative way forward and begin to implement it. 'This is a significant step towards a more sustainable future for the university and the ongoing delivery of excellent education, research and enterprise.' The announcement comes as dozens of protesters gathered outside the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) annual congress in Dundee on the issue. Campaigners marched from the university campus to outside Caird Hall in Dundee, where the STUC Congress is taking place until Wednesday. Campaigners gathered outside Caird Hall in Dundee against the planned cuts at Dundee University (Image: Andrew Milligan) As a result of the revelations about the university's financial woes, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) launched an investigation into the cause, led by former Glasgow Caledonian University principal Professor Pamela Gillies. The University and College Union (UCU) Dundee Branch welcomed the university "backtracking" on its original plans. READ MORE: Scottish university warned by union body chief not to use staff as 'cannon-fodder' Branch co-president Melissa D'Ascenzio said: 'It is a relief that University management has backed away from the brutal plans to cut up to 700 jobs. 'This backtracking is in no doubt down to the relentless pressure from UCU, from all the campus unions and the support they've received from the city of Dundee, local communities and from across the political spectrum. 'Given the news of this new plan, we're urging the employer to take compulsory redundancies off the table, so as we can work with the employer towards a sustainable, successful university that values its staff and students, and continues to deliver the world-class teaching and research.'
The National
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Anas Sarwar called out for glaring omission during major speech
The Scottish Labour leader named six politicians – Liz Truss, Priti Patel, David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and John Swinney – during his speech to the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) on Tuesday, but not Starmer. Sarwar did point to policies the party had introduced in its first months in power, such as raising the minimum wage and a package of enhanced workers' rights, but did not mention the Prime Minister. Starmer's popularity has dropped to 27%, according to a YouGov opinion tracker. The omission has led Labour's critics to claim Sarwar deliberately neglected to name Starmer (above) because he did not want to be 'associated' with the Prime Minister. David Torrance, an SNP MSP, told The National: 'It speaks volumes that Anas Sarwar found time to name-drop six other politicians but could not bring himself to mention Keir Starmer, the man who actually leads his party. READ MORE: Labour MP pans party's broken pledges as Grangemouth refining ends 'It is no surprise that he is embarrassed by Sir Keir, and is now attempting to rewrite the story for Labour in Scotland. But the people of Scotland will not forgive Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour for rubber stamping their Westminster bosses' austerity agenda in which Scotland is continually treated as an afterthought.' Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: 'I can understand why Anas Sarwar doesn't want to be associated with a Prime Minister who is knowingly plunging countless thousands of disabled people into poverty. 'Keir Starmer's government has shown Labour cannot be trusted to do what is right. Their punitive policies are piling even more harm on top of the impact of fourteen years under the Tories, with progress and human rights being reversed at an alarming rate.' Kenny MacAskill (above), the leader of the Alba Party, added: 'If I were Anas Sarwar, I'd be ashamed to mention Keir Starmer's name in Scotland too. 'He has betrayed pensioners, punished the disabled and demonised immigrants. And today we have it finally confirmed that he has abandoned the workers at Grangemouth.' Starmer's first months in power have seen benefits and international aid cut and the Winter Fuel Payment axed. Labour have also presided over a number of industrial closures, including Tuesday's announcement that PetroIneos had stopped refining oil at Grangemouth. The Prime Minister has also said that he no longer believed trans women were women after the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of 'sex' and has attempted to charm US president Donald Trump. Scottish Labour were approached for comment.
The National
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Tommy Sheppard: Holyrood election must focus on right to choose indy
Tommy Sheppard, ex-MP for Edinburgh East, made the comments at the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) annual congress in Dundee, during an event organised by the SNP trade union group (TUG) on Scotland's political future. Sheppard said that the Yes movement has 'a big challenge in front of it' and that campaigners needed to shift the focus away from the broader issue of independence towards the 'right to choose' to hold a referendum. He said that achieving independence was no longer a 'political priority' for voters, adding: 'What's more important is that they don't understand the connection between them placing their vote on a ballot paper and Scotland becoming an independent country. Tommy Sheppard 'My party and other pro-independence parties, and the Yes movement in general, has got a big challenge in front of it, and that is to deal with the situation which would allow people in Scotland to have the right to choose their own future. 'The challenge for next year's elections is to get a mandate, not for independence in the short term, but to get a mandate for the right to choose and the need to change the constitutional law of the United Kingdom to allow that right to be exercised. 'That is what should be front and centre of everybody's manifesto for the elections next year.' READ MORE: Doctors slam Supreme Court ruling as 'reductive' and 'scientifically illiterate' Speaking in Dundee, the former MP also reflected on the current Labour Government as he claimed it was 'exhausting the alternatives', leading more people to consider Scottish independence. He said: 'We have a Government that is an immense disappointment not just in terms of what it's doing, but in terms of what it's not prepared to do. A Government that is elected allegedly from the left that sets its position by saying we are not going to change the balance of power and wealth in society, is one that is always going to run into problems. 'That's not because there are bad people in the Labour Party or because there's some conspiracy, I think that it is because there is a structural problem with the governance of these Islands and of the state of the United Kingdom. 'It is pretty nigh impossible – and I cite the last 100 years of history as my evidence for this – to achieve significant and lasting reform in that society, because the powerful interests that you're competing with are so great that any social democratic party is going to have to make so many compromises in order to stay in office that it will lose the mandate and the political support which got it elected in the first place.' He continued: 'If the Labour Government is doing one thing, it is exhausting the alternatives, and there comes a point – many of us went through this with the last Labour government – where people run out of confidence in the things they used to know and trust, that they will consider alternatives. 'That's why I think the polls are showing that there's a majority of people in Scotland that want to consider political independence for the country.' READ MORE: Tenants could withhold rent over ignored repairs under new Holyrood proposal The STUC annual congress sees trade union members come together from across the country to discuss policy and elect a new general council. During this year's congress, members have backed calls for 'practical' solutions to tackle the rise of the far-right, warning the UK and Scottish governments that they are not 'off the hook'. First Minister John Swinney also addressed members on Monday, where he reiterated his "commitment" to trans rights and that his Government would work with the STUC "to ensure that we deliver for the people of Scotland". From left to right: Sandra Macrae (SNP TUG equalities and women's officer), John Swinney, Simon Barrow (SNP TUG national secretary), Tommy Sheppard, Bill Ramsay (SNP TUG national convener) (Image: Supplied) On Tuesday, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and STUC general secretary Roz Foyer also gave speeches, as Foyer warned the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery is an "inexcusable and unforgiveable failure of both the Scottish and UK Governments". Writing for The National on Monday, Sheppard spoke of the need for the independence and trade union movements to work together. Sheppard told trade union members in Dundee: 'There is a growing consensus in the trade union movement that people should have the right to choose and that that right should reside in Scotland. READ MORE: John Swinney calls for Kneecap to be cut from major Scottish festival 'It's already more or less the policy of the Scottish trade union movement, but it needs to be animated and pushed and we need to do something about it. 'We have a job to do in the trade union movement, both to educate our own party in the SNP about the importance of the trade union movement in Scotland and its importance to achieving change in the way in which we're governed. 'I don't think it's possible to see a journey to Scottish independence without the support of the trade union movement – it's certainly not possible for that exercise to be successful and be sustained without that support.'
