IN MAY of this year management of the City of Glasgow College made the decision to close the Glasgow Trade Union Education Centre.

The centre, which has been in existence, in one form or another, for over 30 years, has provided a wide range of training opportunities to thousands of shop stewards, union reps and members working in different sectors of the Scottish economy. It is a vital resource for the trade union movement and for the wellbeing of Scotland and its prosperity. 

Over the summer the staff at the college, working with the STUC, put together a proposal that would secure the long-term future of the centre. The plan was based on a realistic expectation of the take-up of courses and student demand. The financial projections to accompany the proposal were sound. 

To our astonishment the senior management of the college has rejected the plan out of hand, giving no rational explanation as to why. 

Given that there is no educational nor financial reason to justify the centre’s closure, staff and unions are led to believe that this is a political decision being made by an increasingly anti-union employer. 

All of this has come against a backdrop of growing trade union membership in Scotland — up by 30,000 in the last year alone. Rising numbers of trade unionists should result in a growing demand for trade union representative and membership training.

However, in Glasgow, a city with a long and proud history of trade union activism, the City of Glasgow College, instead of grasping this opportunity to attract new business, wants to close the centre down.

If the closure proposal proceeds Scotland will have no “in-person” trade union learning. That would be disastrous for the labour movement. 

On his election as first minister, John Swinney said: “A partnership with trade unions and business will be at the core of my approach.”

The closure proposed by City of Glasgow College runs completely contrary to this statement and the Scottish government’s stated commitment to the “Fair Work” agenda.

Now is the opportunity for Swinney to turn his words into action by intervening to prevent the loss of this vital educational resource. 

It is inconceivable that the city of Red Clydeside, of Jimmy Reid, Mary Macarthur, John Maclean and Willie Gallacher could be left with no trade union education provision. 

This is not just a matter for the college unions, it is not just a matter for Glasgow or even Scotland, it is an issue that requires a response from the whole UK trade union movement.

If they get away with this in Glasgow, then they will come for trade union education in your area next. 

You can help the campaign by emailing your opposition to the closure to the principal and chief executive of Glasgow College, Paul Little paul.little@cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk and to Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney firstminister@gov.scot.

You can write to you MSP and MP, and you can raise a motion of support at your union branch.

You can also donate to the Save the Glasgow Trade Union Centre Fighting Fund: Unity Trust Bank, Account Name; Collective Learning Partnership Account Number: 20269533. Sort code: 60-83-01.

Please do what you do best and help us Save The Glasgow Trade Union Education Centre.