Workers Solidarity Movement

UNITE issues strike threat - "We have begun planning for a campaign of civil disobedience and industrial action that will make clear the level of anger and fortitude that exists among the people who political leaders have failed utterly.”

UNITE CALLS FOR STRIKES IN NEXT PHASE OF PROTEST

* Slash-back budget will cripple Ireland for generations
* Viable ‘Peoples Budget’ to be published on Thursday

The UNITE trade union has said that national strikes are likely to play a part in future popular action against the current government and its ‘doomed to fail slash-back budget’. 

“Saturday’s march in Dublin showed that the people of Ireland are not willing to sit cowering in the corner as their future is sold for buttons by a political leadership intent on bailing out an out of control banking system,” said Jimmy Kelly, Irish Regional Secretary of UNITE.

“Saturday was more than a trade union march, it was the start of a groundswell of public action that will show political leaders in Ireland and further afield that we are not willing to weigh down current and future generations with unmanageable debt that is not needed.”

“We have begun planning for a campaign of civil disobedience and industrial action that will make clear the level of anger and fortitude that exists among the people who political leaders have failed utterly.”

“It does not need to be this way.  UNITE will publish an alternative People’s Budget on Thursday that shows how growth can be fostered, employment created and recovery nurtured.  This will reduce the deficit and leave Ireland a stronger nation, unbeholden to the rest of the world.”

In a background paper to be published tomorrow (Monday, November 29th) UNITE will outline the economic reasons why the austerity measures suggested in last week’s four year plan can only fail to control the economic crisis that has already brought the country to its knees.”

“They told us two years ago that cuts were needed and we all had to share the pain,” added Kelly.  “The result was €14 billion in cuts, unemployment, emigration and the rapid deterioration of the economy.  Now they say the same thing and the same result will occur.”

“The deflationary policies of the last two years and the next four years, if we do not stop them, are incapable of generating enough growth to stop them sinking the country.” 

“We have ten days left to save Ireland from a slash-back budget that will increase unemployment, send our young people scattering from our ports and airports perhaps never to return, and weigh those who are left behind with decades of despair. 

“UNITE will show a viable alternative on Thursday.  The people will then need to make their voice known in order to force a choice on the future they want for Ireland.  Saturday’s protest was just the start.”

WORDS: UNITE

Further reading

• A radical analysis of the four year plan and call to action
• The need for a general strike
• Understanding the IMF / ECB intervention