STEWART PATERSON

THE STUC meets today for its annual congress with strong messages for both the Scottish and UK governments, weeks before the General Election.

The congress, taking place in Ayr, will be addressed by a senior Labour politician and by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.

Motions from affiliated Trade unions tackle issues including Austerity, food poverty, the living wage, the steel industry and railway franchise and call on action from both Holyrood and Westminster.

The Scottish Government is asked to take action on child poverty, educational attainment and is criticised for its awarding of the ScotRail franchise before rail was devolved to Holyrood.

And the UK government is attacked on austerity and poverty.

A motion by South Lanarkshire and East Kilbride TUC states: "The UK finds itself in the bizarre position with growth up, unemployment figures down but increasing numbers of families in need of emergency food parcels.

"If the first duty of government is to protect its citizens it is failing miserable and this government is refusing to accept its responsibilities as rickets and manifestations of poor diet are becoming apparent."

The Fire Brigades Union has called for greater action on implementing the living wage .

It demands that "The Scottish government and a future Labour led UK government legislate to ensure all employees in the public sector are paid at least the living wage, and all contracts awarded by both governments and public bodies got to accredited companies and businesses that are committed to paying the Living Wage and have awarded the license to use the Living Wage marks."

The STUC General Council criticised the UK Government over the economy and public spending cuts.

It states: "The UK Coalition government's ideologically driven economic strategy continues to fail.

"Spending cuts are failing to consolidate the public finances and the most vulnerable people in society are still bearing the brunt of austerity."

It calls for a change of policy and adds: Congress calls on the UK government to abandon its austerity plans, cancel all planed cuts to spending on essential public services " and calls for " tax rises for individuals and corporations who can afford to contribute more."

The Scottish Government comes in for criticism over the ScotRail franchise from rail unions.

Aslef said it regrets that the government did not delay the contract award until after the Smith Commission report, ruling out a public sector option.

It states: " this move and the award of the Caledonian Sleeper service to Serco demonstrates that the current Scottish Government has fully embraced private ownership of Scotland's railways."