From the Industrial Worker - September 2005.



The protest was filed jointly with the National Union of Journalists. The IWW and NUJ represent the 14 workers affected.

The issue arises from a decision to strip the SSP delegation of its salaries, facilities and support staff after the four Socialist parliamentarians protested within the chamber against a government ban on protests at the site of the G8 summit in Gleneagles despite parliamentary votes to allow demonstrations. Protests were subsequently allowed.

Neither the unions representing the affected workers nor the SSP, which employes them, were informed of or permitted to attend the meeting of the Scottish Parliament committees where the decision was taken, nor were the IWW or NUJ notified that action against our members was being considered.

If the decision is not reversed, the workers affected stand to lose over £13,000 in wages as a result of the politicians’ decision to punish them for their employers’ actions in defense of democratic rights.

A protest has been planned for 6th September at 9am outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, when the MSPs return to work after their extended summer break. IWW members and supporters are encouraged to attend as well as to protest individually in 2 ways

please sign the on-line petition at  http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/754099600?ltl=1121800103
send letters of protest to the presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, George Reid, at The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP, Scotland. Protests can also be emailed to:  presiding.officer@scottish.parliament.uk.