Joint International Seminar 16-17 Sept Glasgow

UNISON Scotland International CommitteeUNISON Scotland looks forward to welcoming delegates from UNISON Northern. North West and Northern Ireland to the joint international seminar in Glasgow. Below I have tried to capture the relevant information which should allow you to prepare for and enjoy the weekend. The main programme as it currently stands for the seminar sessions is below this information section.

The hotel for the weekend is the Jurys Inn Glasgow, 80 Jamaica Street, Glasgow, G1 4QG. This is very near to Central Station and an easy walk to the Tron Theater and the Regional Office. It is possible to get a shuttle bus to and from the airport which stops near the hotel.

It is assumed delegates will check in at the hotel on 16th September prior to the evening reception at the Victorian Bar, The Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, Glasgow G1 5HB at 18.30. The Tron Theatre is a flat easy 11 minute walk (according to Google maps!) from the Jurys Inn. Alternatively taxis are cheap in Glasgow. The main black taxi number is 0141 429 7070 or the hotel will be happy to call you one.

Partly by design, partly it is just the way it panned out, there is a theme running through the seminar of the creative arts and industries and how they are part of our struggle for social justice. At the reception delegates will be able to pick up a T shirt from a creative industry in Scotland – Socialist Productions – who run a political bookshop called Calton Books. Hopefully everyone will get a t shirt they like and in the right size, if not we’ll endeavour to post one on to you if a particular t shirt runs out.

The buffet for the Friday evening will consist of:

• Vegetarian haggis, neeps and tatties
• West coast fish pie
• Vegetarian pesto pasta salad (no tomato)
• Greek salad
• Roasted red pepper hummus & pitta breads
• Scotch pies
• Arran cheddar, courgette & basil mini tartlets
• Chorizo & buffalo mozzarella crostinis
• 1 tray of mixed sandwiches (including some plain ham)
• Potato wedges with a selection of dips
• For a sweet element…. a homemade traybake of Belgian chocolate brownie.

Non halal and vegan food will be labelled.

Delegates will make their own way from reception back to hotel.

On the Saturday morning we will commence at the Regional Office – UNISON House, 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow G2 6RX (7 minute walk from Jurys Inn). In the afternoon after lunch we will relocate to the Glasgow School of Art for a screening of True Cost at the Take One Action! Film Festival. The Glasgow School of Art is a 13 minute walk away up a steep hill. Prepaid taxis will be arranged to take delegates to the Glasgow School of Art – if you intend to walk please indicate this in the morning so the relevant numbers of taxis can be ordered.

The screening and post screening discussion will be a public event as part of the Take One Action! Film Festival. Following on from the screening there will be a chance to visit stalls that are being set up around the themes the film covers. I am also trying to arrange access to tea and coffee. At 17.10 we will commence our final session of the seminar in the theatre where the film was screened; this will revert to being a UNISON only event.

The seminar will finish at 17.45. Delegates will make their own way back to hotel (20 minute walk) – time to take in Glasgow’s grand Buchanan Street and or George Square.

Dinner will be at 19.30 at the Jurys Hotel. Dinner will be followed by a quiz hosted by Mairin Power.
It is possible at 18.30 prior to dinner we will show one of Pablo Navarette’s documentaries at the hotel for delegates who are interested. This will be confirmed by separate email. The quiz will finish around 22.00 allowing delegates to hit the hay or explore the night life of Glasgow!

If there are any issues please don’t hesitate to contact me on 07703 194 132.

Best wishes

Simon Macfarlane
Regional Organiser
Secretary to UNISON Scotland International Committee

Draft Programme as at 30th August 2016

Friday 16th September – Evening

18.30 Welcome event Victorian Bar, Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate,
Glasgow G1 5HB

18.30 – 19.00 Arrival, registration, drinks

19.00 – 19.30 Welcome remarks & couple of songs – Sam Macartney, Chair UNISON Scotland International Committee

19.30 – 20.15 Buffet

20.15 Entertainment

Katie Ailes, Loud Poets 3/4 Poems
Josephine Sillars, singer song writer 4/5 songs
Jim Monaghan, Poet 3/4 poems

21.15 Closing remarks

Saturday 17th September – Day

9.00 – 9.20 Registration & Coffee @ UNISON House, 14 West Campbell Street, G2 6RX

9.20 – 9.30 Welcome/Introductory Remarks

9.30 – 10.20 Session 1 – Northern Region will lead a session on their solidarity project in Buenaventura, Colombia, in collaboration with Show Racism the Red Card and NOMADESC.

Speaker: Ged Grebby, Show Racism the Red Card

10.20 – 11.40 Session 2 – Perspectives on Palestine – Chair Sam Macartney, Chair UNISON Scotland and participant in recent UNISON delegation to Palestine

Speakers:

Hasan Barghouthi, General Director of the Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center, a Palestinian organisation dedicated to defending workers’ rights and promoting social justice and equity;

Glen Williams, Regional President, North West region will be talking about the
Knowledge & Socialist Thought Institute Palestine and his participation in the recent UNISON delegation to Palestine.

Salma Karmi-Ayyoub a criminal barrister working on Palestinian human rights.

There will be time for Q&A and discussion with participants.

11.40 – 12.00 Coffee Break

12.00 – 12.45 Session 3 – Developments in Colombian peace process – Northern Ireland Region

12.45 – 13.30 Session 4 – Pablo Navarette on Documentary Films – Tracey Delaney, Vice Chair, North West International Committee

13.30 – 14.10 Lunch @ UNISON House, 14 West Campbell Street, G2 6RX

14.10 Free transport to Glasgow School of Art, 167 Renfrew St, Glasgow G3 6RQ.

14.30 True Cost Film – Fast Fashion Issues – followed by discussion including Thulsi Narayanasamy from War on Want.

16.45 Coffee & Stalls

17.10 Final Session – Pulling together, future plans/joint work, closing remarks.

17.45 Close

Saturday 17th September – Evening

19.30 Dinner, Jurys Inn, 80 Jamaica Street, Glasgow, G1 4QG.

20.30 International themed Quiz – led by quiz masters Mairin Power, UNISON Centre International Department

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