Sunday, March 28, 2004

SSP leader demands resignation

BBC News Online
Scottish Socialist leader Tommy Sheridan has demanded the resignation of Scotland's top councillor over the nursery nurses strike.
In a speech to his party's conference in Edinburgh he branded Pat Watters a "disgrace" for his handling of the dispute.
Mr Watters is president of the local government body Cosla.
The SSP is campaigning for a national settlement but Cosla is negotiating local deals.
Speaking at his party's annual conference in Edinburgh on Saturday, Mr Sheridan said: "We should say today to New Labour's Pat Watters, you are a damn disgrace.
"On the one hand he calls for call for national pay for councillors of £25,000 a year but he's not prepared to support national pay for nursery nurses of £14,000 a year. It's time for Pat Watters to resign."
The comments caused a roar of applause and shouts among the 400 delegates packed into Edinburgh University's George Square Theatre for the two-day annual gathering.

Nursery Nurses Address SSP Conference



COSLA's Rebuttal
BBC News Online: Cosla laughs off resignation call
"Pat Watters is an excellent president of Cosla and his position as president has nothing to do with the SSP or indeed the parliament."
"Pat has a long history in trade union negotiation and not once during this dispute has he had a go at the nursery nurses - only their claim.