• UER Training Course launched in the regions
• Are you an elected UER?
• One-day Seminar for Education and Health Sector Reps
• Manchester Pride Festival
• Equality and Discrimination Law News
• Other News
• Other Events and Training Read the rest of this entry »

• Headline – Equality Reps Summer School, 2009 Durham
• European elections on June 4, 2009
• Unite for jobs petition
• Equality and Discrimination Law News
• Other News
• Events and Training

Read the rest of this entry »

• Equality Bill published
• Overwhelming response to Equality Rep role
• Unite for jobs demonstration May 16, 2009 – Birmingham
• Organising and campaigning for BAME workers
• EHRC report into equal pay in the finance sector
• G20 Demonstration for Jobs, Justice and the Climate
• Equality and Discrimination Law News
• Other News
• Events and Training Read the rest of this entry »

Edinburgh May Day March and Rally – 2nd May 2009

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution and whatever else can be said about Fidel Castro and the Cuban people they have shown remarkable courage and fortitude in enduring so many privations in the face of an economic embargo inflicted upon them by the United States of America over the past half century.

We are therefore delighted that representatives of the Cuban people will join us in Edinburgh to speak at May Day 2009 and explain what the overthrow of the Batista dictatorship meant to Cuba and what the 1959 revolution continues to achieve today.

Sharing the platform with our comrade from Cuba will be Aleida Guevara, daughter of Che Guevara (Invited), Hilary Wainright, editor of Red Pepper magazine, Matt Wrack the General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union and Mark Lyon the Unite Convenor at Grangemouth Oil refinery who was, as you know, recently involved in strike action over employment rights in the construction and engineering industries.

As well as the political speeches there will be comedy from the inimitable Vladimir McTavish, music, stalls and the ever popular bouncy castle for the youngsters.

The march and rally assemble in East Market Street at 11.30, March at noon and Rally at the Scottish Parliament.

Gillian McKay
Regional Officer
Unite the UNION – Amicus Section

Telephone: Dundee Office 01382 226 268
Telephone: Edinburgh Office 08453450145

• Scottish Women’s Convention, International Women’sDay
• Gender Equality Duty Seminar

Scottish Women’s Convention – International Women’s Day

The Scottish Women’s Convention are holding an International Women’s Day Celebration in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament on Saturday 7 March 2009 at 12.30 – 4p.m. More details of the event can be found on their website. If you would like to register for the event please contact Mary Kerr at 0141 248 8186 or .

Gender Equality Duty Seminar – Menzies Hotel, Glasgow – 20th March 2009

Please find attached the programme for a FREE Gender Equality Duty seminar for trade union reps and officials that Close the Gap is holding on Friday 20 March 2009 from 9.30 to 1.30 at the Menzies Hotel in Glasgow.

All public sector employers now have a legal responsibility to tackle sex discrimination and promote equality between men and women. Trade union reps and officials can use the Gender Equality Duty and gender impact assessment to persuade employers to take action on unequal and unfair treatment of men and women workers and to:

• carry out equal pay audits;
• introduce or improve flexible working arrangements; and
• address ‘glass ceilings’ within workplaces.

This half-day event will give activists the opportunity to find out what the Gender Equality Duty is and how it can be used it in the workplace. It will also explain what gender impact assessment is and the role that reps should play in carrying these out. The seminar will consist of speakers, followed by some practical examples of how reps can use the duty.  Lunch will be provided after the seminar.

If you wish to attend please contact Shona Roberts at the address below, no later than Friday 13 March 2009:

Shona Roberts
Admin Assistant
Close the Gap
333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow G3 6NG
Fax: 0141 337 8101

The Scottish Government have recently launched a new framework for tackling poverty and inequality – Achieving our Potential.

The Poverty Alliance has organised a series of discussion seminars across Scotland to look at this new approach to tackling poverty and what the prospects are for tackling poverty in the current economic climate. These seminars are free and are being held in various venues across Scotland from January 29th until March 12th 2009 (full time table and information is attached).

The Scottish Women’s Convention believe that the Government framework fails to recognise the need for a robust gender perspective in any attempt to address poverty issues. Women too often bear the burden of economic poverty and social deprivation and their poverty is frequently the conduit through which children suffer also. The SWC therefore hope that as many women in our network as possible attend the event nearest to their locale to ensure a strong gender focus is provided on issues relating to the impact of poverty on women in Scotland.

If you want to attend please contact the Poverty Alliance direct on the registration form provided on attachment. My apologies if you have already received this through other cascading networks.

If you require any further information on Equalities or on any item in this bulletin, then please contact Elaine Dougall or telephone 0141 404 1705

• Equality Representatives’ Conference
• Members Enquiry Network
• TUC Regional Officer Seminars
• Campaign to End Child Poverty
• International world Psoriasis Day
• Diary Dates Read the rest of this entry »

• Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
• Seminar on Disability Issues in the Workplace
• Glasgow Pride
• Show Racism the Red Card
• Diary Dates

Welcome to this edition of the equality newsletter for Unite Amicus Section members in Scotland. The intention is to provide a regular update on key issues and developments of relevance to our members. Whilst we appreciate that not every rep or steward has access to email either at home or at work, increasingly most do and it represents the quickest and most cost effective way of providing up to date information. If there is a story or issue you would like to see covered in forthcoming bulletins please contact Gillian McKay, details at the top of this newsletter. Read the rest of this entry »

• The Equality Bill
• Keeping Mum Campaign
• Over 350 reps and members attend Equality Reps’ Seminars
• Abortion time-limit successfully defended
• Equality and Discrimination Law News
• Other News Read the rest of this entry »

• Keeping Mum
• STUC Black Workers Network
• Close the Gap – Legal Update Seminar
• Amendments to Sex Discrimination Act 1975
• Rape Crisis Scotland – Helpline
• Diary Dates Read the rest of this entry »