[Marxism] Workers protest in Dublin

[Charles Brown <cdb1003@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

(NB Dublin's population is about 1.2 million, the population of Ireland (south) 
is about 4.5 million. Last time we had a march this size was just before the 
start of the Iraq war. Not bad - WL) 
More than 100,000 people march in national protest The national protest against 
the manner in which the financial crisis is being handled by the Government 
began fifteen minutes earlier than scheduled this afternoon to accommodate the 
sheer number of people gathering in Dublin's Parnell Square. 

Preliminary estimates by Gardai put the numbers marching at more than 60,000. 
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu), organisers of the march, say more 
than 120,000 people are in attendance. The first protesters had reached the 
Dáil as people waited to begin marching at Parnell Square. 

Ictu general secretary David Begg told marchers the whole banking system needed 
to be nationalised. He appealed to the Government to talk to the union movement 
on its 10 point plan for economic recovery. 

In a statement issued this morning, the Government said there was a 
considerable amount in Ictu's Plan for National Recovery that was "entirely 
consistent" with its own agenda. 

"In particular, it reflects the Government's view that an integrated national 
response to the current crisis is not only desirable but essential if there is 
to be a sufficient impetus and coherence of approach to meet the scale of the 
challenge," the statement said. 

"The Government recognise that the measures which it is taking are difficult 
and, in some cases, painful. The Government is also convinced, however, that 
they are both necessary and fair," it continued. 

The statement described the pension levy as "reasonable" and said it reflected 
"the reality that we are not in a position to continue to meet the public 
service pay bill in the circumstances of declining revenue". 

Impact General Secretary Peter McLoone said ordinary workers did not cause the 
economic collapse "but are being forced to pay for it." 

"Today's demonstration is about all workers coming together to demand a more 
equitable solution to economic recovery. The attempt to pit workers against one 
another is a calculated and cynical distraction. Ordinary workers did not cause 
the economic collapse, but they are being forced to pay for it," he said. 

"The 10 point plan proposed by Congress is designed to spread the burden of 
economic recovery fairly. Job creation needs to be at the heart of any recovery 
programme; action on the banks needs to be determined what is best in the 
public interest and how best to protect peoples' homes. Forcing working 
families to pay for the crisis will cost jobs." he said. 

Mr McLoone said it was "impossible to reconcile the soft handling of the banks 
when thousands of workers in the private sector were losing their jobs while 
those who work to provide public services have had a poorly planned and unjust 
levy put on their income." 

March organisers stress the protest will not just demonstrate opposition to the 
Government's pension levy for public sector staff, but is also a means for 
private sector workers to express concern about issues such as wage cuts and 
unemployment. 

It is understood that trade union leaders are considering the possibility of 
balloting members in both the public and private sectors for industrial action. 
Such a move is likely to be on the table at a meeting of the national executive 
of Ictu next Tuesday, according to highly-placed sources. They said the move 
would be aimed at ending divisions between public and private sector workers. 

About 13,000 lower-paid civil and public servants, who are members of the CPSU, 
are to stage a one-day strike next Thursday. Thousands of other workers in the 
education sector and in the Civil Service are balloting on industrial action. 

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0221/breaking3.htm 



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