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Unions back Labour by single vote Unions back Labour by single vote
(about 4 hours later)
Labour has narrowly retained the formal endorsement of Scotland's trades unions for the Holyrood and council elections.Labour has narrowly retained the formal endorsement of Scotland's trades unions for the Holyrood and council elections.
The general council of the STUC has agreed by one vote to back a Labour victory as being in the best interests of workers.The general council of the STUC has agreed by one vote to back a Labour victory as being in the best interests of workers.
Public service union Unison was among those which refused to support the STUC taking a party political position.Public service union Unison was among those which refused to support the STUC taking a party political position.
SSP leader Colin Fox said the result "spoke volumes", but Scottish Labour welcomed the recognition.SSP leader Colin Fox said the result "spoke volumes", but Scottish Labour welcomed the recognition.
The STUC is not affiliated to any political party, but many of its member unions, including Unison, help to bankroll the Labour Party.The STUC is not affiliated to any political party, but many of its member unions, including Unison, help to bankroll the Labour Party.
The agreed statement will be put before congress later.The agreed statement will be put before congress later.
Speaking at an STUC fringe meeting, Mr Fox said: "The fact that the vote scraped through the general council by one vote itself speaks volumes about trade unionists' disillusion with New Labour.Speaking at an STUC fringe meeting, Mr Fox said: "The fact that the vote scraped through the general council by one vote itself speaks volumes about trade unionists' disillusion with New Labour.
"It is increasingly clear that a sea change is underway in Scottish politics and STUC leaders should not act like Canute and try and halt it.""It is increasingly clear that a sea change is underway in Scottish politics and STUC leaders should not act like Canute and try and halt it."
'Delivering fairness''Delivering fairness'
SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said Unison's decision to abstain in the vote was a "watershed moment" in Scottish politics.SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said Unison's decision to abstain in the vote was a "watershed moment" in Scottish politics.
"If Unison - Scotland's biggest union and Labour Party affiliate - abstains, and even the general council of the STUC can barely bring themselves to support Labour, then it illustrates the depth of the crisis they are facing across Scottish society," she said."If Unison - Scotland's biggest union and Labour Party affiliate - abstains, and even the general council of the STUC can barely bring themselves to support Labour, then it illustrates the depth of the crisis they are facing across Scottish society," she said.
A Labour spokesman said: "Labour is dedicated to delivering fairness and equality for Scotland's workers and that's why our manifesto for building Scotland is brimming with policies that will make life better for hard-working Scots.A Labour spokesman said: "Labour is dedicated to delivering fairness and equality for Scotland's workers and that's why our manifesto for building Scotland is brimming with policies that will make life better for hard-working Scots.
"We welcome all recognition of that, including the statement agreed by the STUC general council.""We welcome all recognition of that, including the statement agreed by the STUC general council."
Unison were on one side of the debate, other unions were on the other STUC spokesman
Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell will address the congress on Tuesday.
An STUC spokesman said later that the vote had been on the "procedural matter" of whether or not to discuss the forthcoming election at the annual congress in Glasgow.
He said: "There was a discussion at the general council yesterday morning - as there was about a number of issues - on the process of holding a debate on the election at the STUC conference on Wednesday.
"Unison were on one side of that debate, other unions were on the other. To say there is only one vote in it is not far away."
'Positive policies''Positive policies'
Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell will address the congress. On Monday, the STUC urged election candidates to place more emphasis on employment and health issues.
Meanwhile, the STUC, which met in Glasgow, urged election candidates to place more emphasis on employment and health issues.
General secretary Graeme Smith said the STUC had "positive policies" which addressed the concerns of its members and insisted trade unions were still relevant to Scottish society.General secretary Graeme Smith said the STUC had "positive policies" which addressed the concerns of its members and insisted trade unions were still relevant to Scottish society.
Mr Smith added: "We meet during an election campaign which so far has been dominated by constitutional issues and a narrow business-focused debate on growing the economy."Mr Smith added: "We meet during an election campaign which so far has been dominated by constitutional issues and a narrow business-focused debate on growing the economy."
The STUC currently represents 46 trade unions and has 630,000 members - about a third of the Scottish workforce.The STUC currently represents 46 trade unions and has 630,000 members - about a third of the Scottish workforce.