A MOTION backing a third referendum option was ditched by trade unions as they pointed out they had not been consulted on details by Gordon Brown’s think tank.
The general council of the STUC told delegates that trade unions should be at the “heart” of the constitutional debate on Scotland’s future.
During the congress, a motion setting out a third option to be included in an independence referendum was due to be debated but was dropped by the proposers to allow the general council to make a statement.
Susan Quinn, told delegates at Cairds Hall in Dundee, that the general council welcomed the sentiment of the motion, put forward initially by Clydebank Trade Union Council, regarding the Our Scottish Futures report released in December last year.
“Workers through their trade unions should be at the heart of the constitution debate on Scotland’s future,” she said.
“Under all constitutional scenarios, including a third option in a referendum, workers' voices must be heard.
“The general council welcomes much of the Labour party’s commission on the future of the UK, including the need for a Scottish parliament to be accorded greater borrowing powers.
“However, we share the concerns expressed in the motion that the commission fails to recognise the role of the public sector in rebalancing the economy, and the renationalisation of basic services and utilities.”
The dropped motion had noted “great concern” over the lack of explicit references to the role of the public sector.
Quinn added: “Whilst supporting the sentiments of the motion, the general council must put on record that a number of Labour-affiliated trade unions have informed the general council that they were consulted on the Labour party commission.
“The STUC itself was not.
“General council, therefore, asks for support of this statement in place of amendment motion 111.”
The statement was carried.
