Workers Solidarity Movement

"The UNITE trade union has formally pledged its support to the Campaign against the Household Charge. It will urge its members not to register and support national and local protest movements where it has a density of members around the country. - "The following comes from the UNITE circular today 24/2/12

UNITE endorses Campaign against Household Charge

* Major union will urge members not to register

The UNITE trade union has formally pledged its support to the Campaign against the Household Charge. It will urge its members not to register and support national and local protest movements where it has a density of members around the country.

Speaking this morning after the union’s Executive had met to endorse this stance, Unite Regional Secretary Jimmy Kelly said:

“We are not against broadening the tax base on those who are rich enough to pay.”

“We believe it is right there should be a tax based on property as exists widely and generally fairly throughout Europe, but not on the family home of low to middle income earners and not at the scandalous flat rate we are being asked to pay in the short term.”

“As of today, we are formally opposing the Household Charge that is being levied without care or thought for its impact on every household in this country.”

“We will stand beside those who have not registered to pay the flat rate charge.”

“We will urge our members throughout the country not to register.”

“The government needs to think through a fairer way to impose tax on property. It needs to take account of people’s inability to take one more punch below the waist. It needs to be fair.”

“It should be focused on creating jobs and protecting the jobs we have instead of privatising and selling off public assets and taking 15,000 to 20,000 public sector jobs out of local economies.”

“UNITE will participate in Saturday’s public protest in Waterford and we will roll a campaign of encouraging members to stand up against the charge throughout the country over the coming weeks.”