Letter to Jack O'Connor SIPTU

Below is a letter delivered to The General President of SIPTU by Donnycarney residents calling on the union to act decisively against the bin charges.
This letter is the outcome of two large public meetings in Donnycarney and Coolock of residents against the bin charges.

9th October 2003
Mr Jack O Connor
General President SIPTU

We are writing to you regarding the bin service charges. We are aware that SIPTU have a position of opposition to the charges. We welcome this opposition and the union’s condemnation of the jailing of elected public representatives.

We in the Donnycarney believe the trade unions have a vital role to play in leading opposition to the charges. We are pleased to learn of the demonstration being organized by the Dublin Council of Trade Unions against the service charges, which we will be organizing support for from our community.

We, however, believe the trade unions should implement their policy of opposition to the charges by instructing their members to work as normal and lift all bins. There will be massive support from the communities for SIPTU if it follows through on this policy. A large meeting in both Donnycarney and Coolock agreed to lobby SIPTU and IMPACT on this issue. We are aware that privatisation of bin and other services is very much on the agenda. We feel this is the opportune time to take measures to stop privatisation, If the campaign of non-payment is defeated the cleansing workers will be isolated and privatisation will become inevitable. This will be a major defeat for the unions and the communities who have resisted the imposition of service charges.

We want unity between the communities and the unions and SIPTU can play a leading role in this endeavour by refusing to play any part in the implementation of these unjust charges.

We trust you will give our request your serious attention.
Yours faithfully

Donnycarney Campaign Against the Refuse Charges