MALCOLM BURNS reviews the latest goings-on north of the border.
The unions strike back
IN THE last week, two more public-sector unions have moved toward ballots on industrial action in Scotland. The Educational Institute of Scotland conference surprised a lot of political commentators by agreeing an emergency motion supporting a ballot on industrial action including strikes in protest against budget cuts which the union argues would see increases in class sizes and job losses.
EIS president-elect David Drever told the conference: "It is apparent that the problems that currently exist will be multiplied in the coming years.
"There is a potential colossal waste of energy and expense in training new teachers who may be lost to the profession if they are unable to find teaching jobs."
Then, as I suggested they would in last week's column, the Civil Service unions in Scotland rejected a below-inflation pay award by the Scottish government, which is sticking to the 2 per cent line from Westminster.
PCS, Prospect and the FDA, which together represent more than 15,000 civil servants, will ballot members within two weeks on industrial action, which might include a two-day strike later this summer that would effectively stop the Scottish government from operating.
PCS Scottish secretary Eddie Reilly said: "We stand ready to return to negotiations in order to resolve the pay impasse, but, if they are not prepared to treat their own workforce fairly, then we are prepared to take industrial action."
It seems that everyone, including the SNP government in Holyrood, is suffering from the Brown effect.
Tartan history
MANY of us who come from the Highland and Islands of Scotland don't bother to wear tartans. Rather, we regard clan tartanry with suspicion, if not downright loathing.
The tartans which have been associated with specific "clans" were little more than a kind of chequered land grab by absentee landlords in the declining years of the clan system which gave us poverty, feudalism, the clearances and "Balmorality."
The very same expropriating landlords were the enemy during the 19th and early 20th century land wars as crofters battled for rights and a living.
Not everyone from the Slough area will regard the Eton school tie as their emblem.
So, I have a jaundiced eye on the progress of Tory MSP Jamie McGrigor's Bill to create a register of tartans which passed through its initial committee stage last week at Holyrood.
It may well make sense for there to be a proper public register of tartans instead of the current competing private agencies which make these claims, but it is hard to take anything which involves the Lord Lyon King of Arms seriously.
I have nothing against the designs by the way. Some tartans are very beautiful.
The Black Watch is a classic, of course, despite being associated with the regiment of the same name which has a long, bloody and repressive history in support of British imperialism, not least against the highlanders of Scotland.
The clowns might forget, but we certainly won't
IF YOU were among the 250,000 people at the Make Poverty History demo in Edinburgh three years ago, you'll never forget it.
Unfortunately, the bunch of clowns who were gathered up the road in Dunblane for the G8 Summit that year, including George Bush, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, seem to have amnesia.
Edinburgh certainly hasn't. This Saturday sees the start of the third annual Edinburgh World Justice Festival. The festival celebrates the anniversary of the Make Poverty History demo and aims to continue the momentum in the campaign for world leaders to make a difference.
From a one-day event attracting about 150 people in 2006, the festival has grown dramatically into a fortnight of events ranging from live music in Princes Street Gardens to films, talks and discussions on topics such as environmental justice, peace, human rights and fair trade.
The festival kicks off on Saturday June 14 with Fugee, a play at the Lyceum Youth Theatre about a 14-year-old called Kojo and his experience within Britain's "system" of refuges for underage asylum-seekers.
For the second year running, UNISON is the major sponsor of the festival. Go to www.ewjf.org.uk/calendar for the complete programme of events.
All of the events at the festival are free and unticketed, so you can just turn up on the day and join in.
One event that I hope to go to during the festival is the Latin American Alternatives evening on Monday June 16. MP Michael Connarty will introduce a screening of "Tambogrande - Mangoes, Murder and Mining in Peru," an award-winning film about a community which is threatened when gold is discovered under its farmland.
Later, a political discussion on a trade agreement for improving people's lives, not making profits, will be addressed by speakers including Venezuelan embassy first secretary William Suarez and Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples spokeswoman Gladys Allyon.
Monday evening's events start at 6pm and the venue is the Augustine Church, George IV Bridge.
Edinburgh fights developers
ALSO in Edinburgh, a remarkable community campaign continues against plans to demolish listed buildings and people's homes on the Canongate, the lower part of The Royal Mile in Edinburgh's world heritage site.
The scheme known as Caltongate is promoted by controversial London-based developer Mountgrange and is centred on development of a former bus station.
But Mountgrange also wants to build on council and "common good" land which community opponents say would mean knocking down 18 homes, half of which are still council tenancies.
In their place would rise a five-star hotel, a conference centre, office blocks and upmarket shops and apartments, all without proper consultation or consent from the local people, who are unsurprisingly but fiercely opposed to becoming a "clone town."
A range of community activities continues up to Saturday. Check out www.eh8.org.uk for details.
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