A Yes vote would empower trade unionists to turn the tide of damaging Westminster austerity and help shape society based on priorities of equality, health and prosperity, Bob Thomson, a former chairman of the Scottish Labour Party, has said.
An ex-member of the STUC's General Council, the Labour stalwart was speaking ahead of the publication of a report by Yes-supporting members of his union, Unison.
The report is a response to Unison's report, A Fairer Scotland, published last year, which called for more powers for Holyrood on pensions and income tax. Reports have suggested Scotland's biggest trade union will officially back neither side in the independence debate.
The report, Say Yes to a Fairer Scotland, sets out what the pro-independence trade unionists believe would be key gains for the trade union movement and Unison members from a Yes vote.
Its focus is on "full powers for a purpose", including: a constitution for social change; protecting rights at work; public services in public hands; taxation and welfare powers; fair wages and the ability to deliver greater employment.
"A growing number of trade unionists know that a Yes vote in September will give Unison and other trade union members the potential to help shape a society based on our priorities of equality, health, and prosperity," said Mr Thomson.
Speaking at a pro-independence fringe event at the STUC Congress in Dundee, he is expected to say: "A Yes vote will give Scotland the powers to stop cuts, protect and rebuild public services, create more and better jobs, and build a nation based on what is important to our trade union movement, instead of holding back with Westminster governments that offer us more austerity."
Sarah Collins, chairwoman of the STUC Youth Committee and a Unison member, who helped prepare the paper, added: "Unison members value fairness and social justice and want to live in a society motivated by these values. A Yes vote will give us, as trade unionists, more opportunity to create and shape our society."
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