Supporters from across the Scottish trade union movement joined Equity delegates on Monday (28 April) in a rally to save River City, Scotland’s only domestic TV soap. The rally took place during the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Congress, 28-30 April 2025.
Trade unionists showed their solidarity with the River City cast during a rally outside the conference venue in Dundee. The show of support follows a Holyrood debate last week on BBC Scotland’s decision to end River City and close its Dumbarton studios. A petition set up by Equity to oppose BBC Scotland’s decision has so far attracted almost 12,000 signatures.
Safety for nighttime workers
An Equity motion calling on the Scottish Government to implement a national strategy supporting safe and affordable late-night transport options for workers, particularly women and vulnerable employees, was carried on Tuesday (29 April). The motion highlighted that many women and LGBTQIA+ people working in the performing arts sector deal with late-night travel as part of their working lives, and that risks for these workers is increased because of the lack of adequate, safe public transport.
Seconded by public services union UNISON, retail union USDAW and rail union the RMT, the motion received the full backing of the STUC to urge employers to provide late-night transport assistance and support trade unions and women’s rights organisations’ campaigns advocating safe and affordable late-night travel.
Equity marked International Workers’ Memorial Day on Monday of this week with a focus on safety for nighttime workers. With the passing of this motion, Scottish unions have committed to campaigning for the safety of all workers when traveling to and from work at night.
Equity activists Kirsty Miller and Councillor Jo Cameron Brown represented the union as delegates along with Ash Alexander and Liz Carruthers.
Value Music Education
At STUC on Monday, Equity seconded a motion moved by the Musicians’ Union about the value of music education, and the contribution of those musicians and teachers who deliver it inside and outside school. The motion called on the STUC to lobby the Government to properly fund music education and ensure that funding delivered through the Scottish Government and councils rises in line with inflation.
Equity has long campaigned for greater arts education in schools and warned of an ‘arts apocalypse’ due to the crisis in funding for arts education.
