Mobilising for October 20

The People's Charter in Scotland recently stepped up a gear with a new e-petition in the Scottish Parliament and a six-week, rolling campaign to mobilise before the STUC's anti-austerity demo in Glasgow on October 20.

The petition, which is live online now - calls on the Scottish Parliament to "uw rge the Scottish government to bring forward measures in all areas it has competency to fulfil the aspirations of the People's Charter."

Supporters of the Charter in Scotland believe it can play a central part in the debate on the nation's future before the independence referendum in 2014, as well as a focal point for mobilising against cuts imposed from Westminster or Holyrood - hence the focus on the October 20 demonstration.

Left Labour MSP Neil Findlay has argued that "the People's Charter provides a vehicle for co-ordinating that action and bringing it together as an alternative to poverty, austerity and inequality. And it is clear that the referendum campaign in Scotland provides an opportunity for us to argue for the kind of society we want to see."

This Wednesday sees the People's Charter autumn campaign come to the Scottish Parliament with two public events.

A lunchtime drop-in meeting will bring MSPs together with People's Charter campaigners to discuss demands and explore practical ways in which the parliament can bring pressure on the government to enact its principles.

Jim Malone of the Fire Brigades Union and Rozanne Foyer of Unite will be among the trade union speakers.

In the evening, an "awareness-raising session" - Scottish Parliament-speak for a public meeting - will take place at 7pm.

Speakers will include Unite deputy regional secretary Mary Alexander, SNP MSP Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Jamie Hepburn, and leading People's Charter campaigner and Labour MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston Elaine Smith.

Smith has stated that: "The People's Charter has the potential to transform the political climate, to build confidence that it is possible to create a better, fairer future."

The potential of the charter to be a vehicle for change has been clear ever since it was endorsed by the TUC in 2009 and the Scottish TUC in 2010.

The charter's demands are effectively a summation of long-standing policies already adopted by unions north and south of the border.

In Scotland the charter now counts 17 MSPs and three MPs among its supporters, including members from Labour and the SNP, as well as unions, community and political organisations and some high-profile public figures like actors David Hayman and Elaine C Smith, who is never to be confused with her MSP near-namesake.

The Scottish TUC's active participation in the steering committee of the People's Charter in Scotland was mandated by another unanimous vote at STUC Congress in Inverness in April this year, on the basis that the demands of the Charter reflect and support the STUC's own There Is A Better Way anti-austerity campaign.

The STUC's direct involvement has meant that the People's Charter autumn campaign is closely linked to the mobilisation for the October 20 demonstration in Glasgow.

Each week in turn from now until the demo - which mirrors the TUC's October 20 A Future That Works march and rally in London - one of the People's Charter demands will be the focus of campaigning by various different supporting groups.

A fair economy for a fairer Britain, the charter's first demand, will be the hook for Scottish TUC activity as the autumn campaign launches this week.

Next week, beginning on September 24, Unite will focus on the "more and better jobs" demand.

In week three from Monday October 1, campaigning charity Positive Action in Housing will promote the call for decent homes for all.

Week four will see public service unions Unison and PCS highlight the demand to protect and improve our public services - no cuts.

In the week before the demo, from Monday October 15, Scottish CND will lead on the People's Charter call to build a sustainable future for all.

And in the week after the October 20 demos, campaigning journal Scottish Left Review in conjunction with the Jimmy Reid Foundation will pick up the theme of fairness and justice.

CPB secretary Rob Griffiths writing in the Morning Star during the TUC last week argued that the October 20 demonstrations should "mark the beginning of a new unity not only in the struggle against austerity and privatisation, but also for a real alternative - the People's Charter."

The People's Charter in Scotland is picking that challenge up this week. Former RMT organiser Phil McGarry, who now chairs the People's Charter Scottish committee, is in no doubt as to what has to be done: "Let's go out there in to the workplaces and communities we're privileged to represent and build support for these policies."