A national stoppage to drive this government out of office
From S.W.P Ireland Website
The Fianna Fail-Green government are planning a new round of attacks on working people to pay for the bail out of the banks.
These will include attacks on child benefit, pay reductions, slashing of public services and the introduction of water charges.
Yet they have already spent €11 billion on bailing out banks and plan to put another €54 billion into NAMA.
They have no mandate for any of these policies and have little public support. Tens of thousands of trade unionists have come out on the streets on November 6th and many have voted for strike action to oppose these policies.
No Sell-Outs
But this mood is not matched by a determination at the top of the ICTU. How could you expect the former FAS chief, Peter McLoone, to lead a real battle!
The ICTU leaders have walked straight into a trap by agreeing to talk about a programme of cuts. The government’s aim is to divide workers by presenting a false choice: you can either have pay cuts – or huge jobs losses.
Far from advising the government on how to cut €1.3 billion from the public sector, the union leaders should be shouting: WE are not the problem – NAMA and the Bank- Bail outs are.
If the government wants to raise more money it should look to the super-rich who gained an extra €75 billion during the Celtic Tiger years. They created the economic mess – and THEY should pay for it.
A National Stoppage
After the huge protest on November 6th and November 11th, the movement MUST escalate or face defeat.
This means that the national stoppage on November 24th should go ahead and strike committees should be formed at grassroots level to organise rotas for picket duty.
Remember: If we show any sign of retreat again, the government will only stick the boot in further
Do It The French Way
A strategy for victory should be based on the great French strike of 1995. When the Juppé government attacked social welfare and public sector pay, the unions engaged in a series of co-ordinated national stoppages. These stoppages were initially led by public sector workers but eventually they drew in private sector workers who had their own grievances.
The one day strikes in November and December 1995 defeated the French government – and we can do exactly the same here, provided there is the will to fight.
Join The Socialists
We need a real alternative to the political establishment. Replacing an Fianna Fail-Green government with Fine Gael-Labour will not bring the change we need.
We need a new politics that is determined to make the wealthy pay for their crisis. If you agree, then join the socialists. Text JOIN to 086 3074060.
If the government hammers childrens allowances and slashes public sector pay- further- the economy may collapse. There is a grave danger of overkill. From where will the purchasing power in the shops come? Cuts should come from bureaucratic waste.
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteMy big paranoid picture is that the Government know what they are doing. They are deliberately deflating the economy, channeling what little money there is to banks and hyper-capitalists, so that when the economy collapses utterly the global elite and a few of our super wealthy, we know who they are, they who spent all the money on a Yes to Lisbon, paving the fucking way; Sutherland, O'Leary, Sir Fucking Antony, O'Brien and all those motherfuckers and their international corporate greedhead buddies can buy the whole fucking country at a discount.
Reduce us to the serfs that we were in the 19th century and then who knows what devious schemes they have in mind for the hoi-polloi . 1984 eat your heart out.
Well, anyway, that's my rant. I'm not going down quietly.
Rory
The Barber
ReplyDeleteOne day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut.
After the cut he asked about his bill and the barber replies,
'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community
service this week.'
The florist was pleased and left the shop.
> >
> > When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning there is a 'thank you' card
and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.
> >
Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again
replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.'
The cop is happy and leaves the shop.
The next morningwhen the barber goes to open up there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen
donuts waiting for him at his door.
> >
Later that day, a college professor comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his
bill,the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing
community service this week.' The professor is very happy and leaves the shop.
> >
The next morning when the barber opens his shop, there is a 'thank you' card and a
dozen different books, such as 'How to Improve Your Business' and 'Becoming
More Successful.'
> >
Then, Brian Cowen comes in for a haircut , and when he goes to pay his bill the barber
again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.'
> >
Brian is very happy and leaves the shop. The next morning
when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen members of Fianna Fail
lined up waiting for a free haircut. And that, my friends, illustrates the
fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the current Irish
government.
Thanks to my brother Fionn for sending this on.