IN stark contrast to the cool reception for hapless Premier Gordon Brown, RMT Scottish secretary Phil McGarry won a standing ovation for a speech covering the extensive agenda of action taken by the STUC over the last year.
Mr McGarry was warmly received when he defended public-sector pay, attacked private finance and called for return of trade union rights in accordance with International Labour Organisation conventions.
He expressed the STUC anger and disbelief at the decision "out of the blue" by SNP Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson to extend the private Scotrail franchise with no public or stakeholder consultation.
"I give a warning to Stewart Stevenson - if that's the way you're going to conduct your business, you'll get a fight from the Scottish trade union movement," he said.
Mr McGarry also expressed anger that, "in 2008 under a Labour government, we still do not have fair treatment for agency workers. Our whole movement is united in fighting for this."
He paid tribute to 120 Labour MPs who voted for a second reading for the Agency Workers Bill, adding: "I was pleased with the commitment of the Prime Minister in that regard this morning."
Criticising the illegal attack on Iraq, Mr McGarry won yet more applause when he said that it was time to bring the troops home.
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