This is the text of a leaflet being given out by League members and supporters on the demonstration in Dublin on February 21st in support of Waterford and against job losses.
The Waterford occupation really shows the way for workers resistance in the face of this world economic crisis. Workers at Waterford Crystals are fighting for their jobs after the Waterford Wedgwood Group went into receivership.
There have been two massive demonstrations of support in Waterford. Over 7000 gathered for the last march and a message of support from the Liverpool Dockers was read out. Negotiations are still in progress as two rival companies Clarion Investments and KPS Capital Partners talk to the receiver and union officials about a possible purchase.
Clearly the Irish trade union movement must rally around this occupation. Indeed the example must be followed by all workers facing similar attacks in Ireland as at Dell in Limerick where 1,900 jobs are to go. It should also be clear that any takeover by either of the US based purchasers will inevitably involve redundancies. That’s why the workers should demand nationalisation of the whole plant!
Indeed the unions should be demanding nationalisation at a time when the Irish state is bailing out the banks. If it can nationalise Anglo Irish and recapitalise Allied Irish and the Bank of Ireland to the tune of €7 billion then it can, and must rescue industry. It is equally important that any nationalisation is controlled by the workers. Workers control must involve not only the end of business secrecy but the democratic exercise of power over the boardroom.
Fury over more cuts The Irish economy was one of the weaker ones in Europe, which is why this crisis has affected it so badly. Now many workers face loosing their jobs. But workers are not taking this lying down, many are balloting for strike action. Members of the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) have voted in favour of action against job losses. Teachers are also moving into united struggle against the pension levy. The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI), the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) and the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT). Other unions such as the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) and the Public Service Executive Union (PSEU) are also looking into strike action. It is quite clear – all these disputes can be united into a co-ordinated strike against the government’s economic plans and against the job losses. No doubt these union officials are being forced to take action in the face of growing anger from their members. The CPSU received 4,000 emails of protest from members!
Unfortunately the kind of action we need will not be at the top the trade union leaders agenda. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has responded by calling a day of action on….. this Saturday! This will inevitably be enormous. It will be a justifiable display of fury over the government’s attempt to make workers pay for the crisis. It will not however deflect Taoiseach Cowen from his goal. It is simply not good enough that ICTU is not prepared to give a lead and call for strike action against the attacks. What did they seriously expect from their talks with the government?
They had already given a green light to Cowen by agreeing to talk on how to implement the cuts. David Begg general secretary of ICTU even proposed solutions that could “include conditions for deferral of pay increases, restrictions in overtime working, incentivised career breaks, flexible working hours and other innovative measures”. Now they want the government to be ‘fair’ and ensure that rich and poor alike make sacrifices.
All out until victory!
Workers have hardly had time to recover from the draconian budget before this latest onslaught. Union leaders have done nothing to resist those attacks apart from hot air at demonstrations. They must be forced to stop bleating about social solidarity pacts with the government and put the trade union movement on a war footing!
An all out strike of public sector workers can be organised that would seriously knock the government back. The momentum has already started, but we need to pick up speed and co-ordinate our resistance. A powerful rank and file surge could force the union leaders’ hand and see public sector strikes at the end of this month. However, is a one day strike enough to win? There is little chance of this given the gravity of the crisis facing the government. The government can easily weather one day action and they will hope it will serve to let off steam. Socialists should be at the fore in arguing for an indefinite all out public sector strike to roll back the attacks. Desperate times call for radical measures.