Report from the INTO picket line outside Dept of Education - 24th Nov. '09

by Gregor Tue Nov 24, 2009 18:09

Text of leaflet produced by District XIV and District XV Committees of the INTO and distributed at today's demo

Thanks to all who have come in to be on the picket & take part in the rally.
Today’s public sector strike shows the potential strength of our movement. The courage shown by teachers & other public sector workers in standing up for our rights should be a source of pride for every one of us.

We have been attacked by politicians, economists & by political commentators. They have attempted to drive a wedge between us & private sector workers & have tried to pin the blame for the financial crisis on us.

The reality, however, is different. We did not cause the crisis & we cannot now be made to shoulder all of the cost. Economic stability will only be restored if serious attempts are made to ensure that the wealthy face up to their responsibilities.

1% of the Irish population owns 34% of the wealth. If the government seriously wishes to deal with the financial crisis, they must take measures to deal with this wealth disparity.

Today’s strike has shown our strength. We know, however, that the government is not going to reverse its course as a result of one day’s strike. That’s why we need to keep our resolve & be ready to take further action.

Whatever the government do in this year’s budget with regard to pay cuts or changes in our working conditions, we know that their agenda involves even further attacks in coming months & years. By our action today we have shown that we are united & that we have to be taken seriously. If, however, the government believes that we are content with just taking one day’s action, they will be content.

But public sector workers, along with our private sector counterparts, must stay strong and determined. Further action will be necessary and we must be prepared to take it. The strength of today’s action is that it shows our power. Let’s build on this and let’s show the government that we will not continue to be scapegoated.

by Irishman Tue Nov 24, 2009 22:53

There will be cuts in social welfare but I don't see the unemployed out on the streets today. The reason is because they have no voice. The unions are being bankrolled by the public sector hence those in public jobs are out on strike.

by Jacqueline Fallon Wed Nov 25, 2009 00:20

My sympathy rests entirely with the unemployed, and those struggling to put two meals on the table, after paying for the rent and electricity, or those queuing for food daily and without hope - those with no fucking union or any sort of backing at all! (the voiceless).

Many people who are out protesting such as, teachers and members of An Garda Síochána, are on salaries that I and many others could only dream about, and they also regard themselves as privileged and precious, and better than the rest of us, indeed, those in Leinster House must think so too, given the handsome reward they give them for their services.

I wish I had a permanent job with a steady income, if I did, I certainly would not be protesting.

Some people who earn above €35k (I'd be happy if I earned that in a year - this year I will count myself fortunate if I earn €27k). People who work in the public sector should count themselves lucky that they have steady work - many in the private sector are not so fortunate and are just scraping to get by, taking work wherever they find it, and really struggling to just barely survive and feed themselves.

by Conor Wed Nov 25, 2009 05:04

I know its difficult, believe me, Im in the lower ''socio-economic'' area. My family got nothing from the Celtic tiger. At the moment, there is no income into my house, and being a student with no income is crap, but I can only imagine how my mam feels. But I still support the strike. I definitely support the teachers and nurses. They have fought tooth & nail to get where they are and now they are being put in the firing line as a target. We must support, not divide.

by UnemployedBum Wed Nov 25, 2009 05:47

I'm unemployed and I get less than 9k per year to live on after I pay my rent contribution. I'm very grateful to have even this.
The government will definitely cut this more because they know they can.We have no voice.
The government claim prices are down 6-8% (presumably to soften us for a 6%+ cut in welfare) but I don't see that on my shopping bill each week.
Also, my rent is still the same as it was during the celtic tiger. Meanwhile, thousands and thousands of properties lie overpriced and idle and will never sell.

I support the strike but I have some serious reservations about people making more than 50k per year, be it public or private.
I'd gladly take a 20% paycut and do their jobs rather than live like I have to at the moment.
the ordinary public servants and frontline staff that do all the real work do not make this kind of money at all.
The useless paperpushers and middle / upper management do.

I think there should be a tapered cut in all pay starting at 50k, rising to 90% above 100k
I mean ALL pay. That includes popstars, bankers, politicians, union leaders etc. private and public.
Nobody is so special that they deserve more than 100k per year. I mean what is it they do that could possibly be so great?
Certainly nothing more valuable than what ordinary nurses and teachers do for far less every day.

Also there should be a sliding property tax on 2nd and subsequent houses and properties (NOT the family home)
And an upper cap on politician total pay of 100k plus all their expenses should require receipts and be freely open to public scrutiny and have a strict upper limit

Everyone including the politicians should be moved to the standard state pension scheme. (i.e. fuck all!) . If you want extra money after you stop doing anything then invest or save it from your salary. Private pensions should be completely paid from people's own salaries.

All tax loopholes should be closed and anybody who does not pay their tax in this country should not have an Irish passport.
That means ALL rich people will have to pay their share or fuck off

Corporate tax should be increased at least by a few % (corporate bloodsuckers should share the pain too!!)

I think those measures would save a fortune and hit mostly the better off in society, as they should.

by Conor Wed Nov 25, 2009 13:47

One thing I hear myself saying a lot recently is if there is a minimum wage, why not a maximum wage?

by Libcom Thu Nov 26, 2009 19:35

Pictures from pickets across the City are available over on http://libcom.org/gallery/irish-public-sector-general-s...-2009

by BucketList Thu Nov 26, 2009 20:39

was watching a comedian on tv recently and he made an interesting point about how it is always places like childrens hospitals who have to get students to go around with buckets collecting for a new piece of medical equipment etc. Yet you never see the army going around collecting for new rifles so they can attack some country in a move that nobody supports. Equally you don't see the banks going around with a bucket collecting for their new Anglo building or collecting to bail out developers.
I think he had an interesting point.

Funny how we only end up scrabbling around and collecting change in buckets for the stuff we actually need.
Food aid, hospitals for children, computers for the schools etc

by shirley Thu Nov 26, 2009 23:45

"you don't see the banks going around with a bucket collecting for their new Anglo building or collecting to bail out developers."

Sometimes you do:
www.indymedia.ie/article/91177