Anti-cuts campaign will be won on the streets & in the workplace

A demonstration marking May Day was held today (Saturday May 1) in Sligo. The protest, organised by the newly formed Sligo Workers Alliance, was held outside the offices of Sligo/North Leitrim Fianna Fáil TD Jimmy Devins in John Street, Sligo.

Following the demonstration, éirígí Sligeach activist Gerry Casey urged Trade Unionists to reject the Croke Park deal on public sector pay and reform. He also claimed that the campaign against the cuts will not be won in negotiations but by sustained action in the workplace and on the streets.

Casey said: “The cutbacks in pay, social welfare and on essential public services are unjust, completely unnecessary and must be vigorously resisted. The decision of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) to accept the Croke Park deal on public sector pay and reform is a shameful betrayal of all workers. At the same time as the Fianna Fáil led administration are imposing these cuts and seeking implementation of this deal, they are pumping tend of billions of euro of tax payers money into bailing out their banking cronies.”







He added: “So while these cuts have already dealt a devestating blow to low paid workers, Fianna Fáil and the Greens now want to impose this new deal which will further reduce the living standards and working conditions of public sector workers. It will also have major implications for their ability to take industrial action and will massively reduce the effectiveness of public services, resulting in widespread privatisation.”

“The economic crisis was created by a combination of the inevitable failure of the capitalist system and the unbridled greed and corruption of the wealthy business and political elite. Workers and the unemployed did not create this crisis yet their income is being slashed. They are being made to pay in order to bail out the banks and retain the wealthy extravagant lifestyle of the business and political elite that crippled the economy of this state.”

He concluded: “This battle against the cutbacks and the bank bail-outs will not be won by union leaders cosying up to government and business leaders. It will only be won by sustained uncompromising action in the workplace and on the streets. Resist the cutbacks – reject the Croke park sell-out.”

Further demonstrations and rallies are to be organised in the coming weeks.