Scotland’s rail network will be hit by strikes during the UN climate summit in Glasgow, a union has confirmed. The RMT said members who work for ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper will stage industrial action during COP26 in an ongoing row over pay.
Glasgow refuse workers have voted for industrial action during COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference as a result of a pay rise dispute with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).
Some people are asking why would the Trade Unions choose this time to begin industrial action. The eyes of the world are upon Scotland, and we do not want them thinking we are going to cause disruption during this global event. This is very embarrassing for the Government, why can’t they wait?
The answer, of course, is simple it is because the eyes of the world are on Glasgow. It is because the employers would be hugely embarrassed if the unions went on strike at this time causing disruption to this global event.
The Unions know the employers and governments of Scotland and the UK will be anxious to avoid any disruption to the COP26 jamboree. It is brilliant tactics by the unions, and I for one applaud their thinking. It shows great tactical thinking and awareness of an opportunity for an easy victory. Easy victories are what all Generals seek, be they military or civilian generals like trade union leaders, politicians business managers, sporting coaches.
These people mentioned, if they are good at their chosen profession, often self-educate themselves. They read and listen to self-help and improvement books and videos. One of the most famous gurus is long dead. He was Chinese and lived many centuries ago, around 250BC.
Sun Tzu was a Chinese general, military strategist, writer, and philosopher who lived in the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China. Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, an influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and East Asian philosophy and military thinking. It is, also a bible for many entrepreneurs and successful business people. It is also a useful tool for those involved in politics. Sadly, it seems in Scotland they prefer reading Stonewall rather than Sun Tzu. One of his famous pieces of wisdom applies to these industrial disputes in Glasgow this week. The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.
This is exactly what the Trade Union leaders are hoping. Rather than square up to strike action the employers will prefer to settle. The unions literally have them over a barrel. Both the Scottish and UK governments will be making representations to Glasgow District Council and Scotrail. I would not be surprised if extra funds are quietly made available to avoid both government’s and Glasgow District Council, being embarrassed at this time. We all know that image is everything to politicians and especially the two egotistical leaders of the Scottish and UK Governments. Great tactics by the Unions. Well done to the workers I say!
AUOB too have seen this as an ideal time to hold one of their marches and rallies. Again great tactics from these loyal independence supporters.
MARCH FOR INDEPENDENCE AT COP26
FOR A GREENER, FAIRER, MORE PROSPEROUS SCOTLAND 🏴
KELVINGROVE PARK, GLASGOW
SATURDAY 6 NOVEMBER
MARCHING TO GLASGOW GREEN 12.30 pm
In November Glasgow will host the COP26 climate summit. Government representatives, delegates and protesters from around the world will assemble in Scotland for two weeks.
On the 6th of November, activists are mobilising to fill the streets of Glasgow with protesters to demand action on climate justice and environmental progress.
Boris Johnson wants to exclude the Scottish government from the summit. All Under One Banner calls on supporters and Yes activists across Scotland to join the march and bring the demand for independence to the mobilisation.
On 6 November the world will be watching us so let’s see a huge turnout making clear that we want independence and that an independent Scotland free of Tory rule can lead the fight in saving our planet.
Come along and show your support!
Like the Trade Unions I congratulate AUOB.
This is indeed the greatest opportunity ever for Scotland to put its case to the world. 166 World leaders, Presidents and Prime Ministers, will be in Glasgow as will the world’s media. Not a media in thrall to five off shore tax avoiding British Press Barons. The world’s media from nations that hold very little respect or love for the UK. A media that will report the truth. A media that won’t skew the story to appease London and the 1% English ruling elite. What an opportunity for Scotland, what an opportunity for Nicola Sturgeon.
If ever there was a time for Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP to act on Scotland’s behalf it is now. My preferred option as I have made clear numerous times would be a recall of all our Westminster MPs, including Iain Murray the Tories and Pete Wishart with them. I would call a Grand Assembly and announce to the world’s media Scotland is withdrawing from the Treaty of Union. I would ask for global recognition of this act.
Sadly, I think we all know Nicola Sturgeon neither has the courage or foresight for such a brave and bold move. She could however reach out to the entire Yes Movement and encourage as many independence supporters as possible to join AUOB on November 6th. She could lead the march and address not just the marchers but the entire world. She could tell the world that despite six election victories and six referendum mandates the English Prime Minister and the Parliament in England refuse to accept the democratic will of the Scottish people.
To even threaten that would have Boris Johnson and his corrupt crew crawling over broken bottles to appease Nicola Sturgeon. She could easily get her Section 30. She could set the terms including the franchise. This is the time to strike. It shouldn’t take Sun Tzu or a blog from me to point out the obvious to Nicola Sturgeon. The clock is ticking and if the SNP does nothing with this once in a lifetime opportunity, then even the most devoted of her followers must surley realise that this woman is not the person to lead Scotland to independence!
Step up or stand down Nicola, this is the time!
Many Facebook sites are increasingly censoring bloggers like myself who are sometimes critical of the actions of the SNP and the Scottish Government. They are attempting to prevent bloggers from getting their message out, so we have to depend on readers sharing the blog posts. If you liked this post or others I have written, please take out a free subscription by clicking the follow button on the home page or on the posts. You will then be notified by email of any new posts on the blog. Thank you.
“..even the most devoted of her followers must surley realise that this woman is not the person to lead Scotland to independence!”
They already know this Roddy, that’s why they are still her supporters.
“This is the time to strike. It shouldn’t take Sun Tzu or a blog from me to point out the obvious to Nicola Sturgeon”
That rather assumes she has any wish or desire to “strike” and that indy is her priority. A hae a douts on that.
The worst thing that happened on 18th Sept 2014 was that Scotland voted No. The second worst was that Alex Salmond resigned. The man’s not perfect, no-one is, but we’d not be in the situation we are today if he had not handed over to Sturgeon. No way he’d have squandered the opportunities she’s had.
No way he’d have squandered the opportunities she’s had.
——————————————————————————
Considering Salmond stood back and let Sturgeon Herself build the 2013 White Paper for Indy its arguable if it was Sturgeon who produced the result more than Salmond did or whether he actually made the biggest mistake in ever handing it over to Her in the first place long before the Vote date. Lets not forget either that its the other Murrell that runs the SNP and was also Salmonds second in charge long before Sturgeon , so maybe its Alex Salmond that was “Telt to stay out of it” .
This shows that Sturgeons thinking is very deeply flawed https://www.sundaypost.com/news/scottish-news/sturgeon-almost-resigned-over-defence-of-convicted-fraudster/
Great article… sadly I agree with the concesus that Mrs Murrell hasn’t got the inclination or motivation to do what she was actually elected for … shame on Alex for handing the job to her she’s a liability
Alex hand was forced by Snp action,s they plotted to oust him.So don’t blame the man who would have had us out by now..
Yes, Maureen, you’re perfectly correct. Alex Salmond must not be blamed for the fact that others in the SNP were jealous of his success – either that or they, like Sturgeon were unionists at heart. I’d love to know which “members” were behind that disgraceful plot.
The greatest con the builders of the Empire of the Elite pulled of was conditioning all opposition to them that diplomacy should be conducted in a civil manner. At the same time they perfected the art of speaking politely at the table while undermining the case of the opposition.
The polite face concealed the private army of the East Indian Company trading opium to another foe.
They hired German mercenaries to fight the Americans seeking Independence in order not to reduce the standing Army in Ireland who were busy crushing dissidents there.
They spoke of the benefits of the 1801 Act of Union ( Ireland) but neglected to give any actual help to that part of the “Union” when a famine struck.
Have you forgotten the Vow. A promise but not a promise. A headline but not official. Polite plausible deniability once again. Enough to turn votes for a Win.
The EU border issue is merely the latest example. They sign as Gentlemen knowing they will revert to being rogues later.
It is not the Unions who should be taking advantage of COP26 it should be every Indy supporter. It should be the greatest focus of Civil disobedience seen since Ghandi’s March.
Instead it will be a festival of Union Flags confirming to the World that the House Jocks know their place. The Boris NO to a Referendum succeeds due to centuries of conditioning.
Stay polite Nicola and follow Whitehall “gold standard” tramlines, be a good little House Jock.
An outstanding piece, Roddy.
Unfortunately:Those touched by outrageous hubris have no conceptualization of any requirement for strategical thinking. Or, more prosaically stated: There’s no way Sturgeon will declare anything at COP 26 much beyond an undying fealty to the British establishment and her bank-book(s).
(Have you forgotten the Vow. A promise but not a promise. A headline but not official. Polite plausible deniability once again. Enough to turn votes for a Win.)
More likely you never understood the “vow” anyway considering it was in fact written by someone working at the Daily Record who was later given a role as a top propagandist for the SNP not that long ago, probably likely for services rendered to the SNP beforehand. It was also someone at the Daily Record who got the details of the Police enquiries into Salmond before anyone else did that led to the Daily Records scoop publication of them.
It is really conincidence that Nicola Sturgeon has also written many articles in the Daily Record ? Sturgeon also said Herself the Vow made no difference to the final Indy Vote anyway as explained here https://whytepaper.wordpress.com/2015/09/19/one-year-on-and-some-crap-about-the-vow/
I think Sturgeon will take the opportunity not only to attack the unions and their members [who are in Scotland increasingly showing signs of being if not openly pro-independence then at least pro-indyref2] but also AUOB. She will do so primarily because she remains terrified of the britnat media.
It’s hard to think of a more cowardly leader than Sturgeon. Also a more selfish one. Scotland deserves better.
Good luck to AUOB. They continue to shame Scotland’s cowardly politicians.
Excellent article, Roddy. If AUOB have a large turn-out surely the foreign press will make the most of it. After all, as you say, the Brits have never been known for their honesty and thus are short of friends world-wide…..even Biden! The miss-deeds of the past are coming home to roost. Be wonderful if Ms Sturgeon follows your advice and takes advantage of the situation.
All of the independence side should make hay while the opportunity exists. Make a massive effort. A brilliant idea, everyone can contribute,
It should have banners, saying “we are withdrawing from the treaty of the union” from windows. From sheds, from gates.
On flag poles, in gardens for miles,
Stickers on cars, on bags and clothes en mass.
A unionist council may stop a march, or even redirect it, but the people themselves cannot be prevented from advertising a believe, while shopping or going about their daily business,
I am afraid I am pretty much in tune with most of the people in Scotland, the snp will not be part of the opportunity as the seem to evade independence at all costs.
https://craigmurrayjustice.org.uk/2021/10/15/update-covid19-at-hms-edinburgh-letter-to-justice-minister-calling-for-craig-murrays-release-on-compassionate-grounds/
Why is Craig Murray still in prison? They had their petty victory. Do they need to put an unwell man at risk to be childish and vindictive?
yes they do, petty and vindictive wins the day for NS.
This is good and there are good ideas on Scottish independence from bloggers on other sites, however they all fall down because we have an FM who is adamant that she is going to wait until Johnson sanctions a S30, something that is very unlikely to happen, and even if it does, Johnson would surely sanction it when (A) the indy movement is at its lowest polling showing, and (B) The S30 would be laden with caveats that would most surely see Yes lose a second indyref.
Sturgeon won’t budget one inch in her desired route on independence, she knows fine well that, that route leads nowhere, certainly not to Scottish independence, I can see no way legally that we can force her hand on independence, and more to the point I for one certainly don’t trust her to hold a winnable indyref, as its patently obvious her heart isn’t in it.
As for this, “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” The Scottish Sovereignty Research Group has written that we don’t need an indyref to leave this union, but again we need an FM with courage and nerve and a willingness to free Scotland from this union, sturgeon is not that person.
https://www.scottishsovereigntyresearchgroup.org/
hope the transport strike is resolved before protesters need to travel.
or is that the plan ?
NS will be too busy cosying up to Boris for some crumbs of limelight from the top table. She might as well come out with “Now is not the time”. Will it ever be, with her in charge? You rightly talk about leverage and strategic action. The SNP seem to have lost their Indy mojo entirely. Where are they all? In thrall to her highness?
If only the Unions did strike and join AUOB in a massive demonstration of solidarity by the Scottish people. A repeat of George Sq, circa 1918, but with a large saltire and a massive crowd would be nice.
But unfortunately, much of Union leadership are unionist and SLAB orientated. And as you guessed Roddy, the Britnat State will back some kind of deal and help out Sturgeon, not to save her face , but Boris’s, the other narcissistic sociopath in the pack of evil jokers running this island.
Meanwhile with the might of the Britnat state in the shape of the assembled masses of English cops, no doubt primed to bully and hassle AUOB marchers into some cul de sac meandering journey , at the last minute, and well away from the world’s media. Remember, when these fascists were used to beat up demonstrators in Edinburgh at the G8 Conference in 2005? Manky Manc polis battering and kettling citizens when Tory Blair was calling the shots at Gleneagles…remember?
I truly fear that we, the Scottish public will be marginalised and ignored by this ego trip beanfest hypocrisy of virtue signalling hot air .The political pygmy and her silent sycophants will sit on their hands , yet again, and allow us to be humiliated and reduced to onlookers in our own land.
The 6th of November 2021 has the potential to go down in this nation’s history books as being the day that modern Scotland began, as the day when Scots finally tired of being a colonized people and stood up to tell the world’s media, the British ruling class and our colonialist administrators in Hollyrood as much. On that day, anyone desirous of making their will known regarding this nation’s future cannot afford to rely on others to speak on their behalf.
Well said. It’s good and right to call on Nicola Sturgeon to do something effective during COP. However, I’m sure most of us agree that it is unlikely to happen, and we cannot possibly sit back and wait for something that is unlikely to happen. Call out Sturgeon yes – she needs to be shamed if she lacks courage and conviction for Scottish independence. In the meantime we need to get out thinking hats on and decide what we, ourselves, can do to draw the world’s attention to the struggle for Scottish independence. It doesn’t have to be meticulously planned (we’re out of time on that one), it can be something spontaneous. Where the people go, the politicians will follow (eventually). Our great “leaders” (Ha) will get on board if enough people start to make nuisances of themselves.
Our great “leaders” (Ha) will get on board if enough people start to make nuisances of themselves.
——————————————————————————————————————————–
I’m not convinced the EU Leaders attending will be too impressed if the Indy movement are just going to
“make nuisance’s of themselves” do you ? Perhaps we need to decide if we want back into the EU first or not before we shoot the Indy movement in the foot and kill the cause off for good through wanton stupidity. ?
You can bet Sturgeon will have some new soundbites and Her neverending stock of platitudes for sale on Indy not too far in the distance but as usual always out of reach. There is no low hanging fruit from the SNP any more its all just Pie in the Sky instead.
Not sure where you are coming from. Personally I have had e ough of this “don’t rock the boat” nonsense. Its getting us nowhere. NOWHERE. History is full of “nuisances “. Just saying . 🙂
UP WITH THE NUISANCES!
Seconded!
And another one with the attitude don’t scare the horses or don’t upset anyone , so the EU delegates will block any attempts by Scotland to join the EU , if we even want to because we made nuisances of ourselves or made a lot of noise or flew OUR FLAGS instead of our maisters flags , no wonder WM are pissing themselves laughing at us , we have a traitor of a fm under the control of WM or anyone outwith Scotland , who won’t move her arse , she doesn’t care about Scotland or Scots she only cares about perverts and deviants , she is presiding over a SG which is failing more and more people every day , she has done NOTHING GOOD for Scotland and independence is going BACKWARDS , BUT don’t make a noise or draw attention to ourselves because we might upset people
Nae wonder we’re not independent
Any bets on Blackford turning up for the AUOB March 😎
Geoff Anderson.
This may sound a bit controversial, but if Blackford has the chutzpah to show up, he should be told in no certain terms to clear off, lets be honest he’s done nothing to advance the indy cause, we shouldn’t then allow him to showboat at AUOB marches like he did in Glasgow.
Depends on whether he shows up as a marcher or tries to be a leader, I’d say.
BUT don’t make a noise or draw attention to ourselves because we might upset people
Nae wonder we’re not independent
=======================================================================
You might not have noticed but Cop26 is about Green issues NOT Scottish Indy and highjacking a Green issues conderence and march for Indy instead and “being a nuisance” won’t go down well in many quarters when its likely just to divert attention from what the actual leaders are there for so if you think its really about “Me Me Me” all the time instead then you have to accept the consequences that it really isnt the hard way maybe instead. Don’t forget that the EU chose NOT to get involved in the Catalonia Referendum troubles afterwards and one of its head commissioners has spoke out against Nationalism too as never being a good thing, the EU doesn’t want countries divided up to have even more smaller factions arguning with each other , things are bad enough in the EU right now already.
Spain is alread pee’d off with the SNP interefering in Spanish Politics so is highly likely never going to vote for Scotland to get back in the EU anyway because doing so would just be waving a Green Flag to Catalonia to break away too, so doing so would be madness for them. https://www.buzzfeed.com/jamieross/spain-has-hit-back-at-the-scottish-government-after-it?utm_term=.hqekqde36l#.yiQ7Nrdm24
On the subject of nationalism:
‘Trans-national nationalism involves the occupation by one country of other countries and assuming control over these territories and peoples. Self-determination (or Decolonisation) nationalism, in contrast, relates primarily to the Self-determination and self-government of a single nation and its people. The latter does not involve occupation of neighbouring countries, nor does it lead to their economic exploitation, neither does it involve enforced cultural and linguistic (Imperialism) measures imposed on other peoples’, the latter a common feature of Trans-national nationalism. Within the UK ‘union’, Scotland clearly demonstrates many of the features, and therefore retains a legacy of being subjected to Trans-national nationalism.’
https://yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2021/07/25/determinants-of-independence-nationalism/