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AUTONOMY
A Scottish newssheet for social change from below
Issue # 2 Autumn 2013

Stirling council workers strike against pay cut

Stirling Council workers in UNISON were on a oneday strike on 27th August, in response to what would amount to an effective pay cut of 4.5%, to be imposed in November. The LabourTory coalition in charge has threatened workers with dismissal if new contracts, which require a 1.5% pay cut plus an extra hour per weeks work, aren't signed by individual workers. Whilst the GMB union at Stirling Council announced a ballot for industrial action on the same day and the smaller Unite and UCATT unions are also considering action, it looks like a united response has not been co-ordinated. If Stirling Council manage to successfully impose these new contracts then this will send out a message to

Work in education? Join the Scottish Education Workers Network

other councils that an imposition of austerity can be got away with and it may be the beginning of a similar cuts across the country. The support for the strike on the day was strong but council workers that Autonomy spoke to in the run up to the day of action questioned whether unified, cross-union action would be forthcoming. Certainly, without concerted action involving all workers at the Council, regardless of union, the administration will steamroller a workforce already subjected to the salamitactics of the trade union chiefs. Whether Labouraffiliated union officials will be willing to seriously challenge their political pals remains to be seen and it will require rank and file initiative to make sure that the fightback isn't undermined.

UKBA intimidation in Glasgow Extreme gas production in the Forth Valley Events and groups around the country Jamie Oliver doesnt have a clue about eating on a low budget

Bedroom Tax: Edinburgh Council continues attacking disabled people

Anti bedroom tax campaigners from round Lothians met in an emergency meeting in August and issued a statement condemning City of Edinburgh Council's policy of quizzing people on their expenditure on alcohol, cigarettes and satellite TV and using this information in deciding whether to award tenants Discretionary Housing Payment. This has led to newspaper reports portraying DHP claimants as scroungers and wasters. In fact research by the Scottish Government and COSLA reveals that at least 80% of households affected by the bedroom tax contain disabled people, state the Lothian Federation of Anti Bedroom Tax Groups. We believe this policy is an incitement to hatred against disabled people these questions must be removed. City of Edinburgh Council is attacking people with severe disabilities by unfairly denying them Discretionary Housing Payments. The Council is counting Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment as income when calculating if a claimant needs DHP. This is completely wrong. (continued overpage)

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Introducing the Scottish Education Workers Network

We are education workers organising to strengthen ties within the education sector here in Scotland, throughout the UK, and around the world. We represent an alternative, rank-and -file, industry-wide model of organising. With the support of the Industrial Workers of the World and other likeminded groups, we are in the process of building a network of workers and students who are interested in fighting for our rights and in developing and sharing anti-capitalist teaching and learning practices through education forums, films, conversations, and writings. Those of us who are members of the IWW will function within our TUC unions as dual carders and will work with other radicals to form caucuses within these unions. The Network also welcomes those with connections to the education sector but who are not currently permanently employed within it, or not members of any union. Join us if you agree that education sector, have every right to make and carry out decisions about curriculum and working conditions.

the skills agenda and corporate control, at all levels of education, have to go. there is no place in our sector for a division between mental and manual labour; or on the basis of gender, religion, ethnicity, or physical ability. Solidarity, communication, and compassion within the working class is essential. we need to take militant direct action against job cuts, department closures, give-backs on pensions and benefits, and excessive workloads. the crisis in education is part of a global assault on the public sector, so building relationships and coordinated actions across national boundaries is very important. we dont support mainstream political parties, including the Labour party and the SNP, since their interests and methods are at odds with our principles of education for liberation. was thus exempt. Eventually this tenant, Margaret, became so ill that she had to give up her tenancy. Despite the Council's welcome no evictions policy, in other respects the Labour-SNP administration seem to be enthusiastically implementing this totally unjust Tory/ LibDem legislation, say the Anti Bedroom Tax Federation. Extra staff are being deployed to phone and harass tenants about rent arrears. A seriously ill disabled tenant who has overnight carers on average 2-3 times per week, has been refused an exemption on the grounds that her carers are not staying regularly. We urge all who care about justice to join with us in opposing this unfair attack on the poor and disabled.
From the Lothian Federation of AntiCuts Groups:

Please contact us at hereandnowscot@gmail.com if you have questions about the Scottish Education Workers Network, or would like to join our email group (sewn@lists.iww.org.uk). For information on upcoming SEWN actions and events, check our website iwwscotland.wordpress.com

/scottish-education-workersnetwork.
We look forward to your participation in this exciting project.

workers and students, united nonhierarchically throughout the

Bedroom Tax (continued from front page)

DLA and PIP should be completely disregarded as available income, because it is paid to cover the substantial extra costs incurred by people with severe disabilities. Recently Bill Scott, manager of Inclusion Scotland, described this policy as plainly discriminatory (Herald 16.8.13). Faced by a challenge by disabled claimants, Glasgow City Council recently changed its decision and disregarded DLA in such a DHP case. The anti-bedroom tax federation maintain that City of Edinburgh Council must do the same. Councillor Cammy Day told north Edinburgh campaigners on 17 June that he disagreed with DLA being counted for DHP purposes this needs changed now. This

discrimination against the disabled must end. Instead of attacking disabled claimants the Council should be using its powers to increase the amount available for DHP by 2.5 times, urge the Lothians Anti Bedroom Tax Federation. The Evening News recently reported that 72% of Edinburgh Council tenants hit by the bedroom tax are in rent arrears. More, properly trained staff are needed to make sure Discretionary Payments reach all in need. The campaigners have further charges. City of Edinburgh Council have admitted they are not assessing claimants individually to check if they are entitled to an exemption from the Bedroom Tax. As a result the Council hounded a disabled tenant for rent arrears despite the fact that she had overnight carers stay every night and

www.edinburghagainstcuts.org.uk

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UKBA intimidation in Glasgow

Weve heard reports that UK Border Agency immigration enforcement teams have been operating in Govanhill, Glasgow. They left without detaining anyone although the police later arrived because people had been shouting out to warn others, and tell them of their immigration rights. Immigration control teams perfrom speculative spot checks on the street but sometimes also raids on peoples houses. It seems like they have been out in force recently in the south of England. This is about intimidating communities and targetting Black and Ethnic Minority peoplei.e. it is incredibly racist. These teams rely on people thinking they have the same powers as the police: they dont, and individuals dont have to

answer their questions. Refugees and asylum seekers are one of us. We believe in peacefully confronting these attacks on our communities like the Southall Black Sisters have done in London. If news arrives of teams operating we should shout them out and make sure those theyre targeting know their rights. In the meantime, weve reprinted the Unity centres poster on immigration rights. Cut it out and put it up at bus stops.

Extreme gas extraction: the situation in Scotland

The town of Airth, between Falkirk and Stirling could be the site of the first unconventional gas development if energy company, Dart Energy, gets its way. Test drilling has already been carried out and after both Stirling and Falkirk councils refused to grant planning permission, we are waiting to hear from official reporters appointed by the Scottish Government if its plans for coal bed methane production get the go ahead. They are due to begin hearing evidence in October. Coal bed methane extraction is related to, but slightly different from the shale fracking (or hydraulic fracturing) which is being opposed right now in Balcombe, down in Sussex. Instead of pumping extraordinary amounts of water into a shale layer, forcing gas or oil out, water already present in coal beds is pumped out which gets the gas flowing, although sometimes fracking and other methods are required. Dart Energy proposes to to build 14 new well pads with 22 new wells, around 20 km of pipelines to connect the sites, a gas processing facility and an waste outfall into the Firth of Forth, near Airth between Falkirk and Stirling. According to campaigning group, Frack Off, this could be just the thin end of the wedge. There is said to be enough gas in the area for 600 wells. The threat posed by this type of gas extraction is very similar to shale fracking. The major problem is water contamination. De-watering involves pumping out millions of gallons of contaminated water (which has been marinading in coal for years) and disposing of it. he produced water can be up to 5 times more salty than sea water and may contain a variety of toxic and radioactive materials including heavy metals and hydrocarbons. They plan on dumping this water in the Firth of Forth, and there has already been reports of waste water with high benzine levels (a carcinogen) being disposed of from the testing wells. Add to this the industrialisation of the countryside,air pollution, increased traffic, accidents, spills etc. And all for the extraction of a non-renewable source of energy when we should be pushing for a fast transition to renewable energy. This is a development which makes lots of money for companies like Dart Energy but forces the longterm costs on the people who live in the area affected. We need to take follow what the protestors in Balcombe have been doing. Their amazingly positive and popular campaign is now has now reached its 40th day and caused real disruption to Caudrilla who dont care if absolutely everyone opposes them. If the Airth development is given the green light we need to organise and resist! For more information, check out:

frack-off.org.uk
And the following groups in Scotland:
Falkirk against Unconventional Gas

www.faug.org.uk
Frack Off Scotland

frackoffscotland.org.uk

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Guilt, choice, and responsibility in the austerity kitchen

Millionaire chef and TV celebrity, Jamie Oliver, was in the news in August for condemning people in poverty for what they chose to eat. Oliver, a supporter of right-wing UKIP and the workfare scheme, said hes spent a lot of time in poor communities, and [found] it quite hard to talk about modern-day poverty. People with large TVs live off of ready meals and chips. Whereas people in Sicily eat well with not much money. His comments feed into a wider narrative which emphasises blaming working class people. In fact, there are many things that people like Oliver dont take into account including time, disability and living in a city. Research shows that peoples diets improve with their income. Heres Ramona from libcom.org with her thoughts on food choices.
Food has always been characterised with angst, guilt, and worry for me. As a teenager I was dangerously underweight and tried to remedy this by stuffing my face with processed food, fizzy drinks, cakes and chocolate, in the hope that I'd develop a body shape other than that of an etoilated ten year old. I mostly just passed out a lot after the sugar rush had plummeted away. In my early twenties I was diagnosed with a chronic and incurable illness called endometriosis, which is characterised by pain and fatigue, and has had only a limited response to surgical and medical interventions. As a result, I work part-time in a pinkcollar job that's so far tolerated my inconsistent good days and bad days, and I earn a little more than I did last year when I got by on housing benefit and three casual jobs. But food is still an issue. A few years back, desperate to try anything that might help me manage my illness, I saw a nutritionist that specialised in my condition, who recommended up to 12 different supplements a day (at 75 a month, this was... unlikely), recommended I cut out gluten, avoid all red meat, eat 6 portions of (preferably raw, fresh, organic) fruit and veg per day, and a whole load of other measures that I kept up with for a few months. I felt better, but this feeling of elated control over my body was short-lived. I worked shifts, and split my food shopping with my partner. And slowly but surely my neurotic meal planning slipped, the carrot sticks were replaced by chocolate bars, the milk was fatty and laden with bovine hormones, and I felt a creeping sense of guilt that I was making myself ill, that I had failed to do the only things I could do to try and keep my illness at bay. predictable hand-wringing outrage should some unfortunate benefits claimant be seen buying her kids a happy meal. Think of Gillian McKeith flushing the fatty, stinking, shameful shit out of some white-bread guzzling prole on prime time TV, or Etonian As my circumstances changed and I found small-holder Hugh Fearnleymyself scraping by for weeks, months, Whittingstall teaching single mothers probably forever, I got increasingly the importance of buying organic. annoyed at the suggestions and advice The fat acceptance movement has offered to me by everyone from medical critiqued the narrative that fat people professionals to smug student hippies are unhealthy, undesirable, or who implored me to stop using poverty as somehow morally repugnant, and the an excuse (there's bins to fat acceptance raid), to think about the movement in ethics of my shopping habits turn has Theres a general background (don't you know why that been critiqued chicken only costs 2.50?!), for being colournoise of sneering judgement that if I just shopped blind and around/planned things about the food choices of ignoring the better/cared about my health racial and class people on low incomes. more/was more of a selfdynamics of righteous hippy cunt I fatness. But wouldn't be in this situation, whichever angle I'd be healthy and full of the foresight you look at it from, the neoliberal shit required to pre-soak pulses and turn a tin sandwhich of choice, personal of sardines into a main course and desert. responsibility, and the ability to eat The control I'd once felt from targeting your way out of poverty and illness is my diet to alleviating my illness turned laden with moral judgements about the into yet another unlivable, unrealistic shopping habits of the poor. standard that just made me feel guilty and personally responsible for my ill In a climate where the working class, health. and benefits claimants and the sick and disabled in particular, are There's a general background noise of constantly dehumanised and painted sneering judgement about the food as the architects of our own choices of people on low incomes. misfortune, food and health become Sometimes the snobbery and hatred another stick to beat us with. Food towards the poor, the sick, and the fat blogger Miss South has written spews right into the open, for eloquently on the snobbery of wellexampleWestminster council proposing meaning foodies advising us how to eat benefits cuts for the overweight who on a "budget", and the frequency with "refuse" to excercise. Those of us whose which "someone will take the chance to bodies are supposedly a drain on the opine on how poor people just need to welfare state and the NHS are try harder, be less lazy, just read the continually reminded that our labels and realise you can buy a weeks predicaments are of our own making, and veg for two quid if youre a good enough the organic-everything-you-are-what-youmember of society". And she's pretty eat brigade are just as quick to tell us if much nailed it - the reality of juggling we'd only stop eating all that processed chronic illness and a low budget is sugar we'd be a lot healthier, and that a difficult enough, without adding in good diet is perfectly possible on the dole. helpings of guilt and individualistic But try making 71 a week last over a ethical consumer bullshit, that helps month, a year, the next 20 years. no one and reinforces the idea that if Combine that with a disability, factor in only we knew what was good for us, we all your other expenses, try replacing would find a way to avoid those battery some cookware or fixing your freezer, and eggs. Because it really is bullshit: then talk about how easy it is. You might not bother instagramming your lunch What you eat may have an impact on once the novelty wears off. your dietary fibre, but it has bugger all to do with your moral fibre. Its Of course, food guilt and demonising the patronising and reductive to suggest sick and obese is tied up in layers of class, otherwise and to focus on the actions of race, and gender. Behold arch-feminist an individual, rather than those of the Caitlin Moran keeping the kids quiet food industry, helps no one and hinders during her hangover by feeding them many, while causing massive divisions quails eggs, compared with the in society.

Upcoming Events
9th September: IWW Branch Meeting in Edinburgh. Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, from 7.30pm. 9th September: Stop the Home Office PosterCampaign of Hate and Harassment: Demo @ UKBA Offices (Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees) 200 Brand Street, Glasgow, G51 1DH 4.30pm - 6pm 14th September: Bin the Bedroom Tax rally and protest against the LibDems national conference. Assemble at Glasgow Green for 11.30am. 21st September: 101 Organiser training in Edinburgh. Book a place via eastscotland@iww.org.uk 21st September: Hollaback! Edinburgh day school on intersectionality and street harassment. 14pm. See the flyer for more info. 8th October: IWW branch meeting in Glasgow. Electron Club, CCA, Glasgow for 7pm. 18th-20th October: Document 11 International Human Rights Film Festival. In Centre for

Contemporary Arts, Glasgow. With Radical Independent Bookfair stall. AFed Glasgow & Edinburgh monthly talks Were organizing monthly talks on different aspects of social change from below. Were still working on the details, so keep an eye on our social media (details below)!
For regular updates on events in Glasgow, subscribe to:

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Housing
Glasgow Solidarity Network
glasgowsolnet.wordpress.com

Asylum/Refugees
Unity Centre Glasgow
unitycentreglasgow.org

Get involved
Disability rights
Black Triangle
blacktrianglecampaign.org

Edinburgh Private Tenants Action Group

eptag.org.uk

Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees

www.gctwr.co.uk

Work
Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)
iwwscotland.wordpress.com

Feminism
Glasgow Feminist Collective
Search on facebook!

Crutch Collective
thecrutchcollective.blogspot.co.uk/

Scottish Education Workers Network

http://iwwscotland.wordpress.com/scottisheducation-workers-network/

Anti-cuts & Bedroom Tax

Edinburgh Anti-Cuts Alliance
edinburghagainstcuts.org.uk

Hollaback! Edimburgh
edinburghhollaback.org

Welfare
Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty
edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk

Social Centres
Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh
autonomous.org.uk

No2BedroomTax Campaign
no2bedroomtax.co.uk

Greater Leith against the Cuts

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Autonomy is produced by
Anarchist Federation (AFed) Scotland. It aims to promote and link together campaigns that empower working class people and that challenge capitalism and irrational systems of power. We want to report on positive, inspirational examples of struggle but also stories which motivate us to act. We will emphasize things happening in Scotland and also report on events in Britain, and around the world.

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