Reports from Bin Tax blockades today (Weds)
dublin |
bin tax / household tax / water tax |
news report 
Wednesday October 15, 2003 11:59
by Joe
Reports of todays blockades around the city on bin truck depots. Starting with Grangegorman
The Grangegorman blockade resumed this morning around 7am. There was a very token attempt to bring a bin truck out and then 5 or 6 gardai arrived. They then stood around for over an hour before getting back into their car and bikes and driving off.
This is probably becuase the workers were refusing to make any further attempts to drive trucks out of the depot until they have had a meeting with the union offical. They are very much opposed to the bin tax because they see it as the first step towards privitisation. However over night it appears union officals were putting pressure on the shop stewards to defuse the situation.
By the time I left around 9.30 the blockade was still in progress and the Gardai were nowhere to be seen.
Comments (35 of 35)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35As there have been people asking for teh depot locations I've started to add links to the maps that have been posted here to http://struggle.ws/wsm/bins.html . There are maps for Grangegorman and Sandyford, perhaps people could post maps of the location of the remaining 5 depots?
I got to Collins after six. There was about 15 people there. It seemed that it was attracting the most media attention after the televised incident yesterday. The guards arrived at about 7. Hendrick the council official read out the injunction, not long after. The guards still had not intervened by the time I left at around 8.45.
Just had time to listen to John Fitzgerald's awful effort on Morning Ireland this morning. He confirmed that refuse collections were being blocked and repeated the tactic used by Fingal council, that magic figure of, 99% of people wanted the new system. He claimed that only a small group were holding the city to ransom and that it was only a small group of hard core activists. (John - you should really come out and see some of the blockades, before making inflammatory statements.) He once again repeated the slander that has appeared in every council affadavit to date, that protestors were involved in acts of provocation against council employees (Once again John you should get down to the depots and listen to the workers - as should Jack O'Connor).
I was there from 6am to 10am and the protest is still continuing.
Thankfully not as dramatic as yesterday morning, but interesting nonetheless.
About 35-40 anti-Tax protestors. Corpo Inspector Hendricks appeared with about 8 cops and mumbled out the text of the Injunction. A gaelgoir with us asked for it to be read in the first national language. Hendricks started blustering that he did not have to do this, we would have to go to the High Court to get it in Irish. We told him this was incorrect. He got on the phone and then hopped in his car and fecked off. The coppers stood around on the corner. No names were taken, even though we were blatantly standing in front of lorries.
SIPTU official Paul Smith arrived and went in to a 10 minute meeting with about 150 workers. He came out and spoke to the media (flocks of whom had appeared). His main points were about workers refusing to be bullied by management and the danger to Health and Safety of the workers and the protestors. The workers told us there is a big SIPTU meeting happening this afternoon.
As yesterday the workers have been dead sound and come out to express support for us. Some have said there is no way they will bring out lorries. This is all workers in the depot, not just Bin Workers.
"However over night it appears union officals were putting pressure on the shop stewards to defuse the situation."
It would seem that Joe might be right in the above statement. But me wonders how they can do that. Defusing the situation means standing apart from the protestors and allowing non-collection to be implemented thus standing with the agenda of the right.
They can't defuse the situation without selling out. Even though the business community is the only real community they care about, the unions are teetering on the brink of losing all respect they ever had in working class communities.
Cops have arrived again at Collins Ave and are threatening to arrest everyone under the Public Order Act to clear the protest. Will post updates as happen. People over there think the cops are serious about it.
Do you know what section they are threatening to use?
Public Order Act as far as I know. Will mean arrests, to station, file to DPP, etc. Some of the younger women protestors seem terrified of the POA, for some reason.
There are about 20 cops over there just now, some of them are Special Branch. They have cameras and videos, persumably gathering 'evidence' of people 'breaking injunctions'.
Inspectors ordered a crew to drive out but they have refused.
The reason I ask is that there are different penalties for different sections.
Have many workers have come out to the gate?
According to Ireland.com the Gardai are quoting Section 9 of the POA - what are the potential penalties?
Reports are coming in from Grangegorman that Hendrick has just driven one of the trucks out of the depot through the blockade. This was greeted with shouts of abuse from workers.
He parked the truck across the road from the depot, but the workers refused to leave the depot. A little while later he came out again and moved it as it was blocking traffic. There are 20+ people still on the blockade.
It is also being reported that the workers are in dispute with management over Hendrick's actions.
9.—Any person who, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, wilfully prevents or interrupts the free passage of any person or vehicle in any public place shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £200.
Campaign Press Release: Council Official Openly Breaks the Law
October 15th 2003 – NO EMBARGO
The Dublin Campaign Against the Bin Tax has issued the following statement:
At Grangegorman City Council Depot soon after 12 noon today Management ordered Bin Workers to drive trucks out of the depot, i.e. to cross a picket line of anti-Bin Tax protestors. The workers refused to do so.
Consequent on this an Official of Dublin City Council got into a truck and drove it through the picket. No one was injured in the incident.
There is severe anger among the City Council Workers at Grangegorman, who report that the man involved is not licensed or insured to drive the truck involved – a clear breech of the law with serious Health and Public Safety implications.
Protests continue across Dublin City Council depots, preventing bin collections. At Collins Ave a stand off in progress with a large number of uniformed and plain clothes Gardai threatening protestors with arrest.
[ENDS]
CRIMINAL JUSTICE (PUBLIC ORDER) ACT, 1994 SECTION 9
Wilful obstruction. 9.—Any person who, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, wilfully prevents or interrupts the free passage of any person or vehicle in any public place shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £200.
Full text of act at:
Perhaps the driver who ran over Joe could be charged under section 18:
Assault with intent to cause bodily harm or commit indictable offence. 18.—(1) Any person who assaults any person with intent to cause bodily harm or to commit an indictable offence shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
( a ) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both,
( b ) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.
Arrest without warrant. 24.—(1) Where a member of the Garda Síochána finds any person committing an offence under a relevant provision, the member may arrest such person without warrant.
(2) Where a member of the Garda Síochána is of the opinion that an offence has been committed under a relevant provision, the member may—
( a ) demand the name and address of any person whom the member suspects, with reasonable cause, has committed, or whom the member finds committing, such an offence, and
( b ) arrest without warrant any such person who fails or refuses to give his name and address when demanded, or gives a name or address which the member has reasonable grounds for believing is false or misleading.
(3) Any person who fails or refuses to give his name and address when demanded by virtue of subsection (2), or gives a name or address when so demanded which is false or misleading, shall be guilty of an offence.
(4) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (3) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or to both.
(5) In this section "relevant provision" means section 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or 19.
Small picket at rathmines depot, and the workers are refusing to go out. Picketters are asking if there is anyone in the area to come and join them.
Just got back from Sandyford where the blockade has been very successful. I left for work before any announcement was made from the council but some of the the binmen had already been heading home and the word was that there would be no attempt to send out trucks for the rest of the day.
There were about 25 people on the blockade with most present since early morning. I spoke to 2 pensioners that have been on the blockade all day yesterday and again today - they deserve our appreciation and respect.
There were 3 gardai present and they had taken names earlier in the day.
Overall, it was all pretty calm but very effective.
I'm sure it is illegal for either to give out such information - any legal opinions?
"It also confirmed that two of those jailed for defying High Court orders to desist from protesting about refuse charges have been given waivers by the council and therefore do not pay any bin charges."
From RTE online news
Latest news when I was leaving around 2.15pm
Small picket, but workers refused to drive through it once anyone interrefed with the route.
At around 11.30 a manager type drove a truck out and parked it across the road. This angered the workers.
They were taken off the payroll for the day. The same scenario is set to happen to tomorrow: if there are protesters then the workers won't pass. They won't be on the payroll from 8am if this is the case.
Because they've been taken off the payroll the workers are angry and the drivers are set to walk out and join the picket. They mentioned that pickets could be put on other depots as well. I think both Siptu and Impact members are involved.
The workers were put back on the payroll so the strike won't be happening... pity but sure there ya go
uncollected bins are creating a health and safety issue in dublin because bin trucks are being prevented from doing their work by groups including people that dont even have to pay the bin-tax. Bunch of hypocrites. Bunch of idiots.
Up until very recently the Supreme Court decided on the grounds of health and safety that it was illegal not to collect all bins. The Government to satisfy their own ends changed the law.
Lo and behold the Courts now find that to follow their earlier precedent is against the law and are prepared to jail those advocating their earlier judgment. It's mad I tell ya.
We still say ALL Bins or NO Bins!
You must be aware that all this started because the council is refusing to collect bins. Take your health and safety concerns to them, not us.
"Rats" - I see you've been inspired by the scumrag Evening Herald's hsterical rant, the govt is running scared when it relies on it's usual muppets for help. The real Health and Safety issue is that the Govt feels arrogant enough to let the rubbish rot of people who cannot, and in future will not be able to, afford this poxy double taxation.
The people out protesting and in jail have more guts and integrity in their little fingers than an arsehole like you will ever show in a lifetime. If the justness of their cause is measured by the calibre of their opponents, victory is certain and inevitable.
Just because some people are exempt from paying the bin tax, it does not exclude them from standing up for the people who are being targeted. By your reasoning no one should stand up for the rights of others - how do you justify that?
The herald is the funniest paper in Ireland, I like the one about the Poll tax being removed by democracy, seem to forget the roits, jailings, non-payments, etc.....
This is the most i've seen the herald cover the story, yeserday with the 'incedent' all they could manage was a token 'no bins collected today' bit up in one corner.
truly inspires, they seem to be getting direction from up above, and i dont mean the god/ess thing.
best of luck with the Pickets
Keep it up to bring it down
"The workers were put back on the payroll so the strike won't be happening... pity but sure there ya go"
What happened between 2.15 and 2.45. What's the background to the change?
what most people are think about your campaign. you have to be careful not to isolate yourself into a corner.
rats sez health and safety issue
by rats Wednesday, Oct 15 2003, 3:15pm
uncollected bins are creating a health and safety issue in dublin because bin trucks are being prevented from doing their work by groups including people that dont even have to pay the bin-tax. Bunch of hypocrites. Bunch of idiots.
1. It was the government which repeled long standing national health legislation to allow non-collection by the councils. It was they that wanted to play games with people's health not us
see council strategy in tatters
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=61632
I would be pretty sure it is also completly illegal under EU law to leave rubish uncollected
2. The workers across all the city/county/Dun Laoghaire areas (unfortunately not in Fingal) clearly DO NOT want to leave people's bins behind and have shown great courage in standing up to the council ....maybe rats and his ilk should take a lesson in solidarity from the bin workers
Conor
RTE has reported two women arrested outside the Ballymount on public order grounds and that normal service has resumed.
Any news on the ground?
This afternoon an employee of the Evening Herald turned up at the Collins Ave depot and started chatting to protestors. As a sort of 'ice breaker' type comment he said that there are loads of jokes going around his workplace about how the new accessory for Corpo trucks is the 'Joe Mooney Hood Ornament'. He was lucky I was (momentarily!) at work when he made this comment.
This verminous piece of garbage (I will not call him a 'writer' or a 'journalist') does not know Joe Mooney from Adam, knows nothing about him at all, but thinks assault with a vehicle and the very lucky escape Joe had from serious injury is a joke. Yeah, right.
I'm not being precious about it and do not see Joe as a martyr or anything like that. I have slagged him and so have loads of other people on the campaign. But we are his friends and comrades, this Herald creature does not know him. If he was writing about someone injured in a car crash, for example, would he turn up to the person's friends making jokes about it?
No. The reality is that some (I could not say all) staff at the Herald think working class people are a suitable topic for laughter and abuse. From this stems the scurrilous bilge they have printed today about some of the women imprisoned. I would reckon it came straight from a Council press release, or other such untraceable leak.
While on the topic maybe the Herald could actually do a bit of investigative journalism into the guy who hit Joe and find out what his background/history is? (I do not want to write here what the story is with that - might prejudice court cases, etc.) But if people ask around they will find out quick enough.
After the Herald guy made the 'joke' today the protestors at Collins Ave decided to give no further comments to the Evening Herald 'newspaper'.
The protest started at 7am. When I arrived at about 11 the lorries were down the yard and were not being touched by the workers. Later on a SIPTU official came out to us and said that in order theat the men be paid they lorries would be moved up to the barrier but that the lorries would not be moving. Some time later on the men came out to get in the lorries . We apealed to them not to get into the lorries and they didnt. Later on the men were presurize to get into the loerries and the lorries came out. At this point the 2 of us got arrested (2 women). This was a clear case of the SIPTU official helping the employer to pass the picket and plotting against the clearly stated wishes of the workers in the depot. In davitt rd the men are 100% with us and would not touch the lorries to expose us to the injunction. Can I appeal to all people to get out to Ballymount tomorrw early as this really needs reinforcement.
When you said that leaving the bins uncollected may contaravent some EU law or something what legal position do you think that puts the people blocking the bin trucks in? Do you not think to sort out the situation the conucil would go for any option - such as calling in private contractors to collect the rubbish.
This is only to be expected from the herald. Independent Newspapers was owned by William Martin Murphy who was a leader of the employers during the 1913 lockout. During the War Of Independence it supported the british. It has consistently taken right-wing positions since then, and for many years supported the fine gael party.
It has long been regarded as a 'Blueshirt' paper, but now that fine gael are on their last legs the indo sees fianna fail as the best option to keep the plebs in order.
If they want to condemn us as hypocrits they ought to make sure that their own house is in order....
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