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Stevenson's repository: May 2015

http://stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com/2015_05_01_archive.html

Saturday, 9 May 2015. Assumed guilt: Social work contempt case. First published in the Scottish Review on 6/5/15. It has been hard to be silent on the social worker contempt’ case over the last 18 months. As the union initially representing the individuals, it was important we avoided anything that might prejudice their case in such bizarre and unpredictable legal proceedings. Posted by John Stevenson. Surrendering to neo-liberal ‘fiscal discipline’. First published in UNISONActive on 27/4/15. He is righ...

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Stevenson's repository: Assumed guilt: Social work contempt case

http://stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com/2015/05/assumed-guilt-social-work-contempt-case.html

Saturday, 9 May 2015. Assumed guilt: Social work contempt case. First published in the Scottish Review on 6/5/15. It has been hard to be silent on the social worker 'contempt’ case over the last 18 months. As the union initially representing the individuals, it was important we avoided anything that might prejudice their case in such bizarre and unpredictable legal proceedings. No-one is above the law and social workers can only operate within the legal structure that allows them the awesome responsibili...

stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com

Stevenson's repository: January 2014

http://stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com/2014_01_01_archive.html

Monday, 27 January 2014. People's Assembly Scotland Launch. Speech at launch of the Peoples Assembly Scotland 25 January 2014. Ricky Tomlinson did a great job in rousing the anger in this hall against austerity. But is anybody like me in wondering why people we represent and organise out there are not more angry? Why so many don’t think there is an alternative to austerity? Posted by John Stevenson. Thursday, 23 January 2014. Serves 24 in small portions. Approx 2k /4-6lb raspberries or mixed berries.

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Stevenson's repository: March 2015

http://stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com/2015_03_01_archive.html

Tuesday, 17 March 2015. UNISON presentation to social services vision and strategy launch. UNISON Scotland has welcomed the engagement of the social work strategic forum and has consistently supported a united strategy for social work in Scotland. Our hope and our aim is that the vision is not just a statement. And it shouldn’t be because it has an important action plan that UNISON will engage with to achieve improvements for the workforce and the service user. Posted by John Stevenson. Stop the War (1).

stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com

Stevenson's repository: The shifting politics of Scotland

http://stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-shifting-politics-of-scotland.html

Friday, 23 January 2015. The shifting politics of Scotland. First published in the Morning Star on 30 December 2014:. It’s been a quiet time in Scotland recently, apart from the Smith Commission on devolution powers, a new first minister, her programme for government, SNP mass rallies, a Labour leadership election, a shadow cabinet reshuffle, the Rangers manager handing in his notice, and the first fall of snow. I mention the football story because there are parallels with Labour’s situation. That’...

stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com

Stevenson's repository: July 2014

http://stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com/2014_07_01_archive.html

Thursday, 24 July 2014. Support for Palestine does not equate to anti-semitism. First published in the Morning Star on 23 July 2014 http:/ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-c9a5-Support-for-Palestine-does-not-equate-to-anti-semitism#.U9E-4yJtrIU. Were caught up in our internal debate in Scotland as to whether independence or devolution is the best strategy to deliver social justice at home. . Posted by John Stevenson. Asking difficult referendum questions is essential. Posted by John Stevenson. I challenge a...

stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com

Stevenson's repository: UNISON presentation to social services vision and strategy launch

http://stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com/2015/03/unison-presentation-to-social-services.html

Tuesday, 17 March 2015. UNISON presentation to social services vision and strategy launch. UNISON Scotland has welcomed the engagement of the social work strategic forum and has consistently supported a united strategy for social work in Scotland. Our hope and our aim is that the vision is not just a statement. And it shouldn’t be because it has an important action plan that UNISON will engage with to achieve improvements for the workforce and the service user. We would make two further points that we fe...

stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com

Stevenson's repository: March 2014

http://stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com/2014_03_01_archive.html

Tuesday, 18 March 2014. Local authorities on the brink. Published in Morning Star 18/3/14. I once received a letter which said: Like you, we believe local services are more important than frozen poultry. I was mildly puzzled because I couldnt recall ever having made such a profound analysis. It turns out it was a reply to something a colleague had sent out contrasting the local papers silence about 1,500 council job cuts with its campaign against 547 job losses at a chicken factory. RUK) economies, uncer...

stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com

Stevenson's repository: May 2014

http://stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com/2014_05_01_archive.html

Saturday, 31 May 2014. Union organised trams roll out in Edinburgh. The first trams for 60 years rolled out in Edinburgh this morning with 95 per cent of their workers members of a union. The success was recognised by the STUC in April when it awarded Unite reps at Lothian Buses the first STUC organising award. The reps were praised for helping tram colleagues set up union structures long before the first passenger was carried. Posted by John Stevenson. Subscribe to: Posts (Atom). Click to choose a label.

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Stevenson's repository: The Smith Commission and referendum romanticism

http://stevensonsrepository.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-smith-commission-and-referendum.html

Sunday, 7 December 2014. The Smith Commission and referendum romanticism. It is time to get over the passion and rhetoric about the Smith Commission and get down to looking at what each power – and all the powers collectively – will bring in the way of control and, critically, responsibilities. That needs to start by asking what we need the power for. Do we want to control corporation tax just to cut it? Do we want to control income tax so that we can leave it alone just as we have since 1999? Smith has ...