Scotland Demands Better

Hundreds of Unite activists joined fellow trade unionists, community activists, charities and anti-poverty campaigners at the Scotland Demands Better demonstration on Saturday (25 October) in Edinburgh.

The demonstration is part of a growing nationwide campaign by workers and the people of Scotland to demand better jobs, better investment in ‘life’s essentials’ such as housing, transport, healthcare, and education – and better social security. 

The march ended with speakers and music at a rally outside the Scottish Parliament.

Unite’s participation in the Scotland Demands Better demonstration is part of the union’s increasing efforts to bring workers and people living in Scotland closer together on the key issues facing the nation.

The union is demanding that Scottish politicians make the changes needed for a fairer society where every household can thrive and prosper.

Susan Fitzgerald, Unite Secretary said: “Unite is here today in Edinburgh on the Scotland Demands Better rally, and we are here mobilising at a time when highly skilled jobs are being lost and when our public services are being stretched to breaking point.”

“It doesn’t matter who you are, the reality is that wages and living standards and just not keeping pace, and ordinary people are sick of the political scapegoating that’s going on while they struggle to keep their families and communities afloat.”

Young Unite member Drew Gilchrist said he was in Edinburgh, “to show support for everyone marching to demand better living conditions, better housing, better standards and better industrial relations for the workers of Scotland.”

Grangemouth worker Chris Hamilton was marching on the streets with many from the refinery, and said, “I’m here today to shout about the thousands of jobs being lost across the oil and gas sector. 

“We’ve a thousand jobs a week being lost in the North Sea every month and, of course, we’ve seen the closure of Scotland’s only oil refinery at Grangemouth, and, as a country, we can’t afford to lose these critical industries.”

“Aberdeen deserves better, Grangemouth deserves better and, ultimately, Scotland demands better.”

As Susan summed up, “the wealth exists in Scotland to do better”, and that people are demanding that “the political choices are made, and taken, so that Scotland does better.”

The STUC published a new analysis of wealth which showed that if a new annual wealth tax of two per cent was applied to all those with assets worth more than £10m, it could raise up to an estimated £492 million extra per year from Scotland’s 10 richest families alone.

The campaign continues and people across the country are raising their voices to say that “Scotland Demands Better!”

Just a few images from the protest are below.

By Keith Hatch

Photos by Unite Scotland