Greta Thunberg urges striking workers to join her for Cop26 protest in Scotland
GRETA THUNBERG has urged striking railway workers to join her protest during the COP26 summit.
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The teenage climate activist took to social media to announce she would be taking part in a protest during the COP26 summit. She called on rail workers, represented by the RMT union who are on strike during the conference, to join in.
On Twitter, Ms Thunberg said she will be joining the Climate Strike march from Kelvingrove Park to George Square.
She said: “On Friday Nov 5 I'll join the climate strike in Glasgow - during #COP26 Climate justice also means social justice and that we leave no one behind.
"So we invite everyone, especially the workers striking in Glasgow, to join us. See you there!"
The Climate Strike was organised by Fridays for Future Scotland, and was founded by young people inspired by Ms Thunberg's activism.
Rail workers in the RMT union are set to strike throughout the two-week conference.
On Monday, the union rejected a new pay deal offered by ScotRail amid an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the decision to go ahead with industrial action was made on Friday after the train company “failed to get serious” in talks with the union.
He said: “There was a golden opportunity for ScotRail to make serious progress in talks today, but instead they offered nothing of any consequence and as a result our action throughout COP26 goes ahead as planned.
“There is still time to avoid the chaos of a transport shutdown during COP26 if the key players get back with some serious proposals.”
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The Scottish Government has said it will focus on "making alternative plans for rail operations during Cop26" if a pay offer is not accepted by Wednesday.
Refuse and recycling workers from more than half of Scotland's local authorities will also be out on strike from November 8 to 12, along with school cleaners, janitors and catering staff.
Ahead of world leaders arriving in Glasgow for the climate summit, Susan Aitken, the city’s council leader, downplayed concerns over piled-up bin bags and rats.
She said to the Scottish Affairs Committee on Monday after being pressed on the issue by Douglas Ross, Scottish Conservative Leader: “All cities have rats.”
It comes after Ms Thunberg blasted the COP26, saying summits will not lead to action on climate goals unless the public demand change too.
She told the BBC: “The change is going to come when people are demanding change.
“So we can't expect everything to happen at these conferences.”
She also accused politicians of coming up with excuses, and urged them to “be honest”.
She added: “Be honest about where you are, how you have been failing, how you're still failing us...
“Instead of trying to find solutions, real solutions that will actually lead somewhere, that would lead to a substantial change, fundamental change.”