General Meeting of the National Public Service Alliance

A general meeting of the National Public Service Alliance will take place in the Teachers Club, Parnell Square at 8 P.M. on Wednesday next, March 25
It is expected that the recommendation of the Executive Council of ICTU on proceeding with the national stoppage on Monday, 30 March should be known by then.
It should be noted that ICTU has no power to call off a strike. Such power lies solely with individual union executives.

It is important that union activists insist that their individual union proceed with the stoppage unless the “Pension Levy” is withdrawn despite any ICTU recommendation to the contrary.

Sign the ‘Scrap the Levy’ Statement

The government is determined to impose the pension levy on all public servants. It has no serious intention of making those who created the economic mess pay. We have seen no proposals which will seriously tax the rich property owners and speculators who created the economic crisis.
The great march on February 21 showed that many workers are angry and want their unions to stand up to those who want to make us to pay. We salute the CPSU for showing that the only way to stop the levy is to take determined action. Now is not the time to be cutting a deal with the government. The ICTU must state clearly that it wants the levy scraped. How can you sit down with a government who has put its hand in your pocket and taken a large chunk of your wages? How can you talk to a government who has unilaterally decided not to pay wage increases?
If we cannot stop these attacks the trade union movement will be seriously weakened. It is quite clear that the government will be looking for more cuts. Determined action is needed to show that we will not role over in the face of these attacks.
We support the ballots now being conducted and urge all workers to Vote YES for action.
We demand:
1. Scrap the levy. No to wage cuts.
2. A one day national stoppage of all public sector workers to remove the levy. This should be part of a determined campaign in all unions to have the levy removed.
3. A pension protection fund for all workers.
4. Make the rich pay for crisis. We are calling for serious taxes on the wealthy and the removal of all tax reliefs and shelters. We demand tax equity.

Please support these four demands.
Add your name to a public statement calling for a national stoppage to scrap the levy

To Sign the statement click HERE

Contact: 086 4183732
Email: scrapthelevy@gmail.com

National Public Service Alliance

Next General Meeting of National Public Service Alliance,
Date:Thursday Feb 26.
Time: 8.15PM.
Venue: Teachers Club, Parnell Sq, Dublin 1.

Pension levy just the start of more penal taxation, workers claim

Workers in the public and private sectors must stand together and not allow business leaders and employers drive a wedge between them, was the message from a well attended public meeting in Clonmel last Thursday night.

The meeting was called by Clonmel Trades and Labour Council in response to the proposed government pensions levy, with the aim of organising protest action and uniting workers, in the public and private sector.

The first action took place on Saturday morning in Clonmel when the Clonmel Trades and Labour Council led more than 130 protestors to the offices of Fianna Fail Oireachtas members in the town.

Protestors took the opportunity to repeat their concerns and objections directly to Minister Martin Mansergh and Deputy Mattie McGrath

Among the concerns raised at last Thursday’s public meeting was confusion that the government could introduce the levy without negotiation and queries if there were grounds for a legal challenge; others questioned if the levy was tax deductable.

One angry speaker said that it came down to action, getting out on the streets and letting the government know that people are hurting.  Another speaker advocated strike action, saying no attention would be paid to marches at weekends.

Meeting of activists from across public service unions

A very successful and widely representative meeting of Public Service trade unionists took place on Saturday 14th at Davenport Hotel, Merrion Sq.,Dublin

The meeting strongly demanded that all public service unions ballot members immediately for a campaign of industrial action to force the withdrawal of  the levy. The campaign within unions to promote this course will be  intensified, building on successes already achieved. CPSU, PSEU, TUI,  ASTI, INTO are now balloting for industrial action.