SOLIDARITY: The STUC condemned today the detention and deportation of Glasgow University rector Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah from Germany last week.
An STUC youth conference emergency motion praised Dr Abu-Sittah’s “long and distinguished career as a war surgeon in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and most recently for 43 days in Gaza’s al-Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals,” and asked the STUC to write to Glasgow University calling for it to vocally defend its rector.

CARE: Delegates noted the disappearance of £38 million in supposedly ring-fenced funding for raising the pay and conditions of care workers in the Scottish government’s 2024-25 budget.
It demanded the government explain the withdrawal of the investment and “restore the missing millions.”

JOURNALISM: The STUC affirmed the importance of local media in sustaining local democracy.
It called for members to support the new Scottish Beacon network providing mutual support and information for “grassroots, hyperlocal and community news providers.”
NUJ delegate Simon Barrows praised former Morning Star Scotland editor Conrad Landin as an example of a public interest journalist trained up through local media.

EQUALITIES: The Scottish TUC called for a review of cycle lane projects that in cities like Glasgow have placed cycle lanes between pavements and pedestrian crossings, and seen kerbs removed.
Delegates praised the intention to encourage cycling but said the new lanes place blind people at greater risk of being hit by bikes, and that authorities need to include the interests of disabled people when planning infrastructure.