éirígí launch scathing attack over anti-worker budget

Sligo éirígí activist Gerry Casey has launched a scathing attack on Fianna Fáil following the budget on Tuesday. He accused them of deliberately targetting workers to pay for their failed economic policies and to bail out the banks and their developer friends.

Casey said: “Contrary to the claims of some Fianna Fáil Ministers prior to its introduction, the measures in Tuesday’s budget were not fair. The increased taxes and cuts in benefits will disproportionally impact on low income workers and those on social welfare. Families who were already struggling to survive and make ends meet as a result of last Octobers savage budget cutbacks, recent pay cuts and soaring unemployment now face into an uncertain future with their living standards due to deteriorate considerably as a result of Tuesday’s budget.”

He added: “Particularly reprehensible have been the cuts in social welfare. Their decision to halve unemployment benefits for under – 20’s and to scrap the Christmas bonus for social welfare recipients is set to cause serious hardship for many families and drive many into the hands of greedy and unscrupulous moneylenders.”

“All of this stands in stark contrast to the administrations bail out of the banks and their developer friends. The administration’s response to this economic crisis has not been to make those responsible for it pay but to instead make their victims pay. While they have turned the screw on the living standards of workers and the most vulnerable in society they are more than content to further supplement the business classes extravagant and wealthy lifestyles.”

He concluded: “This administration has shown clearly where their loyalties lie. They are inflicting untold suffering and poverty on working class families throughout this state. This is a government which needs put into solvency. These measures must now be resisted by all means necessary by the trade unions, by working class communities throughout this state and by political parties that represent workers interests.” ENDS