Aberdeen Universities UNISON

Celebrating International Women's Day 2023

The Aberdeen Universities UNISON Branch would like to invite you to an event celebrating International Women's Day 2023.  Two talks by two women's rights activists who supported the women liberation movement in Aberdeen for many years.

Wednesday March 8th 2023 at 12:30pm - 3pm
Sir Duncan Rice Library, Lower Ground Seminar Room, Aberdeen, AB24 3AA

This is a hybrid event, in person and online. If attending online a teams link will be sent one day before the event.

BOOK ONLINE VIA TICKETSOURCE - FREE

A woman’s work is never done: Campaigning for women’s and worker’s rights in Aberdeen over the last fifty years

Sandra MacDonald

Born in Africa, brought up in Aberdeen, Sandra studied at Aberdeen and Strathclyde Universities, working in tourism in the North-East before switching to the oil industry, where she worked for over 30 years. A life-long campaigner for women’s and workers’ rights, Sandra was elected to represent St Machar ward on the city council from 2003 to 2007, where she worked hard to enable local people to have their say on decisions affecting their communities. Sandra is a member of Aberdeen Women’s Alliance, Workers’ Educational Association and Grampian Regional Equality Council.

'Dreaming dangerously: Women's Liberation in Aberdeen'

Chris Aldred

Chris Aldred (Durndell 1970-4) was active in Aberdeen’s women’s liberation groups in the 1970s. Her involvement inspired lifelong work in education, especially adult education and work with communities. She continues to be active in trade unions and contributed to early STUC and TUC initiatives in trade union education for and about women, as well as organising and teaching a range of community-based courses for women.

Categories: Events | Information

May Day Events - March & BBQ!

Categories: Events | Members

Livingston Designer Outlet Coach Trip

UNISON Aberdeen Universities branch has organised a FREE day trip on Saturday 27th April to Livingston Designer Outlet for branch members. Members may also bring along a guest as well!

With over 70 boutiques, restaurants and cafés, Livingston Designer Outlet isn’t merely Scotland’s largest Designer Outlet. They have a wide range of stores, offering something to suit every taste. Highlights range from iconic fashion brands, including Fred Perry Kurt Geiger, Lacoste and Tommy Hilfiger, athletic labels like Nike and Adidas, and high-street favourites like M&S and Next.

We'll have two pickups on the morning of Saturday 27th April departing from:

• Kings College, University of Aberdeen departing at 8am, and
• SIWB, Robert Gordon University Garthdee departing at 8.30am
• Returning at 5pm for arrival back to Aberdeen at about 8pm.

For more information about the venue, see the Livingston Designer Outlet website.  To book your place (please note only UNISON branch members may book), please use our Ticketsource booking form:

Have you booked already, but lost your e-Ticket? 
Please go to the Ticketsource website where you can request they are resent to you.

Categories: Benefits | Branch | Events | Members

Lesbian Day of Visibility - Can You Help?

Why is Lesbian Day of Visibility important for the LGBT+ community?

I am the Chair of the Rainbow Network at Robert Gordon University(RGU).   We are a staff network who aim to promote LGBT+ diversity in the workplace. Our next event is for Lesbian Visibility Day, on 26^th April 2019. 

This April we are planning with the Women’s Network at Robert Gordon University to celebrate and raise awareness of lesbian communities and culture.  This is the first time that we have organised an event on this day and we are looking for lesbian/gay woman role models to be featured in a poster display.

We would like to profile your story and send a strong message to the staff and students in the RGU community about why it is important to be a visible gay women.  If you would like to be part of this exciting initiative please:

• Download and complete the form answering "Why is Lesbian Day of Visibility important for the LGBT+ community?"
• Include a high resolution picture of yourself
• Send both to lgbtstaffnetwork@rgu.ac.uk by 29^th March.

Thanks in advance!

Hamish Walker
Rainbow Network Co-ordinator

Categories: Events | LGBT | Members

UNISON Branch AGM 2019

It's now time for the branch Annual General Meeting, and this year we'll be repeating our split AGM format across both Universities.  The AGM will be held on two days at lunchtimes, with one meeting at RGU and the other at UofA.  Please make every effort to come along to one of them.

Refreshments will be provided from 12 noon and the AGM meetings will start at 12.30pm.

University of Aberdeen

Monday 11th March 2018: 12 noon – 1.30pm (for 12.30pm start)
Room G3, St Mary's, University of Aberdeen

Robert Gordon University

Tuesday 12th March 2018: 12 noon – 1.30pm (for 12.30pm start)
Room 620, Aberdeen Business School, RGU

Papers and agendas will be sent out to members in advance of the meetings.  Please also ensure you complete and submit any nomination forms for stewards and branch officers prior to the meeting.

Categories: AGM | Branch | Events

Heart Unions Week - STUC Webinar

As part of heart unions week, we're hoping to show the live webinar about the STUC's better than zero campaign.  Better Than Zero are a group of workers, who, since 2015, have been organising against precarious work in the hospitality and service sectors in Scotland.  They campaign against zero hours, zero rights, and zero respect in the workplace. 

Come along, have a chat, get some heart union goodies (including our reusable hand warmers and heart union jelly beans!), watch the webinar, and let us know what issues you're facing right now:

• Wednesday 13th February 2019
  
  1pm-1.45pm - UNISON Stall - SIWB Entrance Area (RGU)
  
  2pm-3pm - LIVE WEBINAR - Room 412 - Aberdeen Business School (RGU)

We hope to see you there!  For further information you can also see the national website www.heartunions.org.

Categories: Benefits | Branch | Events

Aberdeen May Day March - 5th May

Aberdeen's May Day March & Rally for International Workers' Day will be held on Saturday 5th May this year.

The event is organised as always by Aberdeen Trades Union Council. Each year, people across the globe take to the streets to commemorate International Workers' Day, or May Day.

ATUC President, Kathleen Kennedy said, "In our 150th anniversary year we want to make our May Day March and Rally an event to remember.

"We are calling on trade unions, community groups, friends and families to join us with banners and placards.

"We want to give a clear message on International Workers Day that workers matter. We are the backbone of our society and should be treated with respect, decently paid and their workplaces should be safe, healthy and family friendly.

"We shouldn't need to strike to defend our pensions, our pay and our terms and conditions - yet we do. Events like our May Day March show solidarity and support for our struggles."

Please gather at Rubislaw Terrace at 11.00am, to march off at 11.30am down Union Street. A rally will be held in the Castlegate from 12.15pm, with a range of speakers from trade unions, local politicians and community activists.

Categories: Events