Is The STUC Becoming Relevant Again?

Trade unions are now the real opposition to the SNP. Scotland’s top trade unionist promises ‘wave after wave’ of strikes & calls out ScotGov for posing as progressive/failing to use all its powers to help poor, and playing manipulative games over strikes. https://t.co/s4krXqhXTV

— NeilMackay (@NeilMackay) September 8, 2022

A thoughtful article by Neil Mackay in The Herald - is the STUC finding its voice after years when previous leaders spent most of their time cosying up to the Scottish Government?

General Secretary Roz Foyer has the right attitude when she says the SNP can - 

“either do nothing and keep making excuses, blaming Westminster, or step up to the plate and prove they’re on the side of ordinary people and are prepared to do whatever it takes within the powers they’ve got to stand by us”.

Because it's this attitude which forced SNP ministers to reconsider their spending priorities and find another £200 million to settle the recent council workers' strike.

Council Strikers 1 - 0 SNP Ministers (September 04, 2022)

Striking council workers have forced the SNP into a major U-turn - having insisted the dispute had nothing to do with them and claiming there was no more money for an improved offer, SNP ministers have suddenly found an extra £200 million 'down the back of the sofa'.

If the First Minister spent more time on her day job and less at the Edinburgh Fringe, maybe this could all have been avoided, especially as the SNP have done exactly what they said was impossible just a few short weeks ago.