The greatest threat to democracy may no longer come from political parties but from unelected tech oligarchs like Peter Thiel and his powerful Silicon Valley network, argues JOHN GREEN
TEACHERS’ unions were dismayed that councils and the Scottish government failed to bring a new offer to pay negotiations this week.
The Education Institute of Scotland, the biggest education union north of the border, warned that strike ballots would be “inevitable” if a “substantially improved offer” is not made this month.
Last month teachers overwhelmingly rejected a “final” pay offer of 3 per cent. Unions, understandably, argue that a 10 per cent rise is needed to make up for a decade of wage stagnation.
The Tories introduced the 50% strike ballot threshold to make industrial action harder. MATT WRACK argues that a Labour government has no justification for leaving it on the statute book
KENNY MacASKILL says the lines between party, government and Civil Service in Scotland have been blurred and we need a thorough investigation into how
Roger McKenzie talks to general secretary of Unison CHRISTINA McANEA about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on members, the local government funding emergency and the threat of Reform UK


