Radical Independence Campaign

RIC Media Release: Conference to discuss how independence could be a new strategy to achieve industrial democracy and empower trade-unions in Scotland

Trade-unionists and industrial relations experts aim to put forward a new strategy to empower trade unions through independence, in response to the UK Government’s new ‘review’ of industrial relations which is set to impose further limits on trade-union rights.

The discussion will take place at this year’s ‘Radical Independence Conference’, 23rd of November, at a special session titled ‘Empowering Trade-Unions: A New Strategy for Industrial Democracy in an Independent Scotland’.

Cat Boyd, a former PCS activist in the DWP, said:

“We all know that Cameron’s ‘review’ is an election stunt to impose more anti-trade union laws. We have had over three decades of attacks on the rights of trade-unionists to organise from successive Westminster Governments. It’s about time we started putting forward an independence strategy for trade-unionists in Scotland, where trade-unions are valued not demonised.”

In the wake of the Grangemouth dispute, trade-union activists are looking to independence as a means to ensure trade-unions and workers have a stronger say in industry.

Bryan Simpson, youth observer on the National Executive Committee of Unite the Union and a Unite trade-union representative in the financial sector in Glasgow, said:

“The way Unite members were treated by the billionaire tax-exile Jim Ratcliffe and the way the Westminster Government stood by as the workers and the whole of the Scottish economy was threatened by one man is not a memory trade-unionists will forget easily. If an independent Scotland is going to be about social and economic justice then it has to be about empowering the ordinary men and women who do the work that keeps the country running.”

“We need industrial democracy – where workers have a say on the management boards and in their workplaces – and I don’t see a strategy for achieving it at Westminster. I’m looking forward to discussing the development of an independence strategy for trade-unions at the Radical Independence Conference.”

Gregor Gall is Industrial Relations Professor at the University of Bradford but is based in Edinburgh. He said:

“I am a co-author of an upcoming report by the Jimmy Reid Foundation on transforming industrial relations in Scotland so that trade-unions are seen as virtuous for everybody, workers have the right to democratic input and to employment laws to act as a restrain on corporate power.

In the context of the upcoming independence referendum and the recent events in Grangemouth the issue of industrial relations needs to be high up the agenda in the constitutional debate. It was encouraging that John Swinney recently said that workers representation on management boards is “an important issue to consider”. The discussion at the Radical Independence Conference can hopefully help build a much needed debate on this subject.”

The Radical Independence Conference is on Saturday, November 23rd, in the Marriot Hotel, Glasgow. Over 600 tickets have been sold already and 1000 people are expected on the day.

Contact Jonathon Shafi on (redacted) or email radicalindependence@gmail.com for more information.