SIPTU encourages members to join the Right2Water protest on Wednesday 10th

http://www.siptu.ie/media/pressreleases2014/mainnews/fullstory_18706_en.html

Statement by the National Executive Council of SIPTU on the Right2Water Protest

Date Released: 05 December 2014

The SIPTU NEC statement of 21st November 2014 concluded: “Therefore, in the absence of a declaration by the Government of its intention to provide every household with an adequate supply of water to meet all its domestic needs, at no direct cost, while retaining a tariff on non-essential use only and to legislate for a Referendum to prohibit privatisation, we will work with other trade unions and civil society organisations, including those involved in Right2Water, to campaign through peaceful protests and other democratic actions, to achieve these objectives”.

Since then, the Government has given no indication of any further movement in its position.

Therefore, we have sought engagement with the trade unions involved in the current Right2Water Campaign with a view to the development of a common platform on the issue across the movement.

Pending the outcome of any discussions with the other trade unions, we would encourage members to participate in the Right2Water protest which is scheduled to take place at Leinster House, Merrion Square, Dublin 2 at 1.00 p.m. on Wednesday 10th December 2014, of their own volition, if they are free and available to do so.  We believe that every peacefully conducted protest and democratic action has the potential to help further the demands for an adequate supply of water to meet the normal domestic needs of every household at no direct cost and a Referendum to change the Constitution so as to prohibit the privatisation of the public water supply.

 

SIPTU joins water charges campaign?!!

21st November 2014

Statement by the National Executive Council of SIPTU in response to the Government’s policy announcement of 19th November 2014 on the public water supply.

The Government’s initiative of 19th November 2014, while offering clarity and certainty on water charges, will not provide a comprehensive long-term solution for the challenges confronting the development of the public water system.

· Its most immediate flaw is that the charges regime remains regressive in character. The objective should be to provide every household with an adequate supply of water to meet all their domestic needs at no direct cost, while retaining the option of a tariff on non-essential use only as a conservation measure. The Government should announce its intention to do this.

· Policy on the development of the public water supply should not be decided in the context of a fiscal austerity programme, which is now totally unnecessary in any event. It calls for a properly informed and structured public debate. If the current projections for economic growth are achieved, Irish Water could be re-designated as a democratically controlled Water Authority or a non-commercial semi-state company within the lifetime of the next government, without further increasing taxation or cutting public spending. This would enable charges to be dispensed with altogether, retaining a tariff on non-essential use only.

· We must have a Referendum to insert a provision in the Constitution prohibiting the privatisation of the public water supply. Otherwise, there is a real danger that we will drift into privatisation due, for example, to the inability of Irish Water to collect its revenues. In this regard, we welcome the decision of the Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to support, promote and campaign for such a referendum.

Therefore, in the absence of a declaration by the Government of its intention to provide every household with an adequate supply of water to meet all its domestic needs at no direct cost, while retaining a tariff on non-essential use only and to legislate for a Referendum to prohibit privatisation, we will work with other trade unions and civil society organisations, including those involved in Right2Water, to campaign through peaceful protests and other democratic actions, to achieve these objectives.

 

Greyhound Lock Out: third SIPTU local meeting, Stoneybatter, Dublin, Tuesday 2nd September 2014

 

March for the Greyhound workers: Dublin, Monday 1st September 2014

 

Greyhound: calling all volunteers -Thursday 24th July – Dublin District Council city centre leaflet distribution.

 

 

 

Greyhound protest in Crumlin – elected representatives oppose strikebreaking bin collection

Crumlin, Dublin, Monday 21st July 2014

Joan Collins TD, Local Councillors Pat Dunne and Brendan Young and past President of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions Mick O’Reilly protest against strikebreaking bin collection at Stannaway Ave and Rutland Grove in Crumlin, Dublin, this morning.

 

 

Greyhound: USI support video (thanks again to Paula Geraghty)

 

James Connolly on strikes: “If they succeed in stopping that business they win, if they do not succeed they lose”.

“If a body of workers are on strike the question of whether they are winning or losing is settled in the long run by their success in stopping their employers’ business. If they succeed in stopping that business they win, if they do not succeed they lose. If their Union is able to pay Strike Pay for a year or two years they would still lose if the business can go on without them; nay, if the Union could pay a Strike Pay greater in amount than the weekly wages they had earned they would still lose if the employer’s business was going on without them. But if the business cannot go on without them then they win. Hence, and this is the pivot of the whole question, whosoever enables the employer to continue his business without the striking workers is scabbing upon those workers.”

James Connolly, ‘What is a Scab?’, Workers Republic, 10 July 1915

https://www.marxists.org/archive/connolly/1915/07/scab.htm

 

Support the locked out Greyhound SIPTU members

 

Defend Dublin Fire Brigade services: demonstration and general meeting 7th April 2014

Public demonstration to protest against threat to Dublin Fire Brigade services Monday7th April 2014, 5 pm. Followed by general meeting at 6.45 pm.