UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for UNISON activists. Bringing news, briefings and events from a progressive left perspective.

Saturday 24 March 2012

Tories Kettled at Troon

Over 1,000 STUC demonstrators against youth unemployment kettled Tory delegates attending Scottish Conference in Troon as they tried to leave for lunch today. Speaking at the demo, Mike Kirby, UNISON Scotland Secretary and STUC President, condemned this week's budget as "tax cuts for the rich few while a whole generation is consigned to mass unemployment because of crazy austerity economics".

Mike said that cutting the 50p tax rate was completely unacceptable while unemployment soars across the UK - and Scottish youth unemployment hits record level.

"It is completely unacceptable for the government to cut tax for the rich few in society while a whole generation is consigned to mass unemployment because of crazy austerity economics", he said.

"Freezing the miminum wage for young people is unfair and will do nothing to address poverty or joblessness. Over 100,000 young Scots are now jobless - that's the highest figure for a generation. And that's why the STUC called for the demonstration."