Dear Editor,
Last February, IBEC, the Irish employers' organisation declared that it wanted the pay of all workers cut. IBEC claims that private and public workers must suffer repeated pay cuts to make the economy 'competitive' and win more exports.

A huge propaganda campaign against public sector workers has been whipped up by the corporate media. Appreciate for a moment how most of that media is owned by two tax fugitives, Denis O'Brien and Tony O Reilly, who claim to live outside Ireland for more than 183 days a year to avoid paying tax!

The plan is to divide workers, to pit private sector against public sector, as is sickeningly obvious to anyone listening to radio, TV, or reading either tabloids or broadsheets. IBEC is the main architects of this strategy. The pay of public sector workers is under attack again to set a headline figure for a new round of pay cuts in the private sector. Talk of 'more for less' actually means more work with less workers in public services that are already stretched. So, it is not in the interests of any of us to see the ordinary staff in the public sector attacked.

Unsurprisingly, public sector workers have had enough of being bashed and a backlash has begun. Over 5,000 public sector workers attended area meetings called by the 24/7 Alliance, grouping together front line staff. Public services unions e.g. IMPACT balloted overwhelmingly for strike action. Gardai and soldiers have stated that their loyalty to the state is a two-way street. This government intends to be the first ever to cut garda pay.

Terrified, Cowen and Lenihan have opened up talks with the union leaders. Now watch the developing situation carefully.

The leader of the ICTU Public Service Committee is Peter McLoone (IMPACT) who, along with SIPTU's Jack O Connor, called off the trade union mobilisation on 30 March last and allowed the government to impose a 7.5 per cent pay cut under the guise of a 'pension levy'- for many a loss of over €4,000 per annum. Unfortunately, the weak response of the trade union leaders encouraged IBEC and the government to come back again for more.

It is up to all of us to take to the streets on Friday 6 November, assembling at Galway Cathedral 2.30pm, linking with others to send a strong message to IBEC, the union leaders and the government. No pay cuts or attacks on allowances for low/middle-income earners, and no attacks on our public services.

In solidarity,

Dette Mc Loughlin,
Socialist Workers Party,
Galway

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