"This is dreadful and infinitely depressing news to wake up to. People Before Profit condemns this killing outright. There are many problems unresolved in the
Eamonn McCann is to fight the Foyle constituency under the People Before Profit banner in the forthcoming Westminster general election. The poll will be held, at the latest, on 6 May 6.
The journalist and political activist was nominated at a meeting of People Before Profit Alliance in Derry on 13 February.
The Foyle seat is currently held by Mark Durkan of the SDLP. Martina Anderson is standing for Sinn Fein.
Members of the newly formed Kerry Public Service Workers Alliance picketed Fianna Fail TD Tom McEllistrim’s clinic twice in a row. On the first occasion he didn’t turn up and his mother instead fielded questions. McEllistrim, who is well known for never voicing an opinion if he can avoid it, was confronted by over 100 angry workers at a second meeting. Martin O’Grady of the KPSWA said afterwards that the TD was very evasive, and refused to give them support in having their wage cuts reversed.
“The wage cuts will result in a direct loss of over €25 million per annum to Kerry. Local businesses will suffer heavily and more jobs will be lost in a county with an unemployment rate that is twice the national average. Slashing the wages of those who have jobs will not create a single job for those seeking employment”.
In a new development, the Alliance said that it would consider running general election candidates if they could get no support from Kerry’s TDs.
SAVE SALLYNOGGIN LIBRARY
-DEFEND COMMUNITY AMENITIES
Saturday Feb 27th at 12 midday (Outside Sallynoggin Library).
Local residents and library users in Sallynoggin will hold a protest rally on Saturday February 27th at 12 midday, outside the library, which was earmarked for closure by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Co. Council at their December budget meeting
The Council intend to press ahead with plans to close down the Sallynoggin library in the next few months, despite widespread local opposition to the closure plan.
Local anger and protests have so far delayed the closure, which was originally due to take place in January. However, the Council intend to go ahead with the closure over the next few months.
In response to local protests, the Council are proposing to replace the existing library with a book collection in a local school or community building that they hope will be run by volunteers.
However, those opposed to the library closure believe that a volunteer run book collection is no substitute for losing a proper library run by trained librarians and with all the other services a library offers.
They also point out that at a recent meeting organised by the Council seeking volunteers, only two locals turned up – indicating that the proposed substitute book service would almost certainly collapse through lack of volunteers, even if it got off the ground in the first place.
BACKGROUND
The TEEU is in official dispute with Green Isle Foods, Naas since August 2009. This dispute is to have three wrongfully dismissed members reinstated.
• Management at Green Isle still refuses to engage with the TEEU, LRC, NIB, or accept the Labour Court Recommendation that states: The dismissals were unjustified and called for the reinstatement of the dismissed workers.
• This is despite the company having accepted Irish State Aid to the tune of €43,000,000.00
• The ICTU has granted the All-out Picket, while British strike breakers have left the company after being arrested for public disorder offences including serious assault. Irish scabs hired by Green Isle through recruitment agencies have replaced them since.
HUNGER STRIKE
Through insufferable frustration the striking workers have decided to embark on a Hunger Strike. Starting on Wednesday 17th February the Electrical Shop Steward will commence the Hunger Strike outside the plant. He will be joined by another striker one week later, then another and so on, to heighten awareness of their long running dispute and to secure the reinstatement of there wrongly dismissed colleagues.
NATIONAL RALLY & DAY OF PROTEST – 27 February 2010
The first meeting of the Kerry Public Service Workers’ Alliance took place at the beginning of December 2009. The meeting, which was attended by 10 people, had been called by trade union activists from the Teachers’ Union of Ireland in IT Tralee, in an effort to organise public service workers in Kerry against the swingeing wage cuts and levies that are being inflicted by the FF/GP government.
The turnout at that first meeting was disappointing, coming as it did the day after the most savage budget the country has seen to date, a budget that specifically targeted public servants and the services they deliver. Moreover, notices for the meeting had been distributed in almost every public service workplace, including the hospital, county council buildings, Institute of Technology, revenue and social welfare offices etc.
The discussion at the meeting centred on the need to open up lines of communication between local workers, mount resistance to the attacks on public services and force a moribund national trade union movement to make a stand. It was clear that there is a complete absence of leadership at the top of the trade union movement and that the only way to address this was through a grassroots movement of members.
The government suggests that the current water crisis was caused by wasteful householders running their water to prevent their pipes from freezing and irresponsibly not conserving water. However the authorities and engineers dealing with the water system have long flagged the perilous state of our infrastructure to the government, which they have consistently ignored.
Public Meeting Waterside Pub, Clondalkin 8pm, Mon 22nd February All welcome! Speakers: Cllr Gino Kenny, South Dublin County Council Cllr Brid Smith, Dublin City Council
Come to the meeting to discuss how we challenge… Water Rates Cuts in wages, welfare & community services St Andrews Community Centre, SCR, Rialto.
People Before Profit South West Inner City Branch
Basin Street/Grand Canal Harbour development
Residents in the Basin Street area asked People Before Profit (PBP) to assist them in challenging the extensive development proposed for the Grand Canal Basin. The planning application did not make any provision for social housing or community gain, nor did it include any information on what residents could expect in relation to construction timing, traffic management or environmental impact. Residents in the area feel they were not adequately consulted with by the developers prior to submitting their application. In total six objections were lodged on behalf of resident associations in the area. Residents are now proposing that a working group be established with the support of PBP to prepare for the outcome of the planning process.
Bulfin Estate
A number of issues have arisen in relation to the Bulfin Estate:
2009 will be a year to remember for all the wrong reasons. The Fianna Fail/Green Government, with the collaboration of Labour/FG and the union leaders,
Get our Weekly newsletter with all of the latest from People Before Profit
