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news report
 Monday March 31, 2003 19:21 by pat c - Trade Unionists Against The War annefconway at yahoo dot co dot uk 086 3388962
 Organising meeting to discuss building a workers and trade union campaign against the war in workplaces and in the trade union movement. Teachers Club, Parnell Square, Dublin 1. Thursday, 3rd April at 8 pm. BUILD WORKERS OPPOSITION TO THE WAR!
The Irish Government¡¯s support for this war, by providing overflight rights and facilities at Shannon airport, is appalling and shameful. Against the clear wishes of the majority of the Irish people, the Irish State is now complicit in the war crimes that flow from the blitzkrieg. As so often, it falls on working people and especially their representatives in the workers movement to express their views and take appropriate action. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has claimed to be in opposition to the war but it has not turned words into deeds. It has led no campaign in the workplaces and made no call on trade union members to take action as trade unionists.
We, the undersigned, resolve to take the following action to build a workers campaign against the war. We do so in solidarity with workers across the world ¨C in America, in Britain and many, many other countries that have demonstrated and taken action against the war. We seek to build an Irish component of an international movement against this barbaric imperialist war. ¡¤ We demand the closure of Shannon airport and overfilghts of Irish airspace by the US military. We support and will attempt to organise workers in Shannon and elsewhere to take direct action to stop this collaboration with the war. ¡¤ We demand that ICTU, its constituent unions and the whole trade union movement support and defend all workers who take action against this war. ¡¤ We demand real support and participation in the demonstrations and activities of the anti-war movement through the organisation of workplace committees against the war, through trade councils and through trade union branches.
¡¤ Contact; Tel 086 3388962 Name Address/email/Tel. No Trade Union
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Comments (12 of 12)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Importance: High
On a directly related subject...When I initially raised the idea of asking the Dublin Trades Council through my Union (My branch unamiously passed a motion proposed by me to this effect that has been forwarded to the Dublin Trades Council) to make opposition to war this year's (2003's) Dublin Trades Council May Day march main theme I thought that perhaps bad and all as this war would be that it would be over by May Day. However due to the much stronger than anticipated resistance from the Iraqi military and even more surprisingly from the ordinary Iraqi civilians I foresee that this war will be a long and bloody conflict killing many thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians and it will in all likelihood still be raging on May Day, so that’s why the Dublin Trades Council must make opposition to war the main theme and focus of this year's May Day march in Dublin! Speaking of which, do you know what day this year's May Day march is on? I hope that they stick to what they’ve done for the last few years, and that’s thanks to some good delegates on the Dublin Trades Council, and have it on the May Day itself (May 1st), like it is in every other country, (May 1st, which this year falls on a Thursday, great day for getting more people out with late nigh shopping!) and not have it on the Bank Holiday Monday after May Day (May 1st) when fuck all people are guaranteed to turn up. Let me know what the story is please Pat C as soon as you read this Email. Is there an Email list for "Workers Against The War"? If so can you put me on it. Unfortunately I won't be able to make this Thursday's meeting because one of our work colleagues in An Post is leaving after over 20 years' service on Friday and she's having her leaving party on Thursday night. So please keep us posted as to what happens on Thursday night Pat C.
Pat c how dare you say that you are a 'trade unionist against the war'. You are in no way active in your Trade Union the PSEU. You have admitted this.
I have already explained about the PSEU, I have beeter things to do than to look after the petty problems of middle managers.
It is interesting that the SP send out their fools to attack initiatives in support of workers action rather than helping to build them.
Incidentally, Dermot Connolly on many occasions played a prominent role in trade union campaigns against National Wage Agreements. He was a SP fulltimer and hence not a trade union activist in the narrow meaning of the phrase.
Going by the sort of logic now used by the SP (OK as well as GK & other anonymous fools), Dermot should not have been involved in this.
Like it or not the PSEU is a Union of the Working Class. The task of socialists is to raise the ideas of working class unity, raise working class consciousness in the union (esp if members are perceived to be 'middle class')
You cannot really attack FTers of Parties as they are not members of the Unions, I'm sure FTers from SP and SWP over the years have assisted in campaigns against parnership, they key thing is members themselves organising campaigns!
Pat is really coming across as an armchair activist, a vitual warrior, whatever you wanna call him. Pat, Why are you not involved in your Union? I know for a fact that there is a left caucus in your Union! You lecture from the safe distance of your keyboard, but you dont actually take part in activity.
lobbying the ICTU conference.
"Like it or not the PSEU is a Union of the Working Class. The task of socialists is to raise the ideas of working class unity, raise working class consciousness in the union (esp if members are perceived to be 'middle class')"
You have your opinion I have mine. The problem with Leninists like you is that you think your opinions are laws of nature; therefore yopu have to force them upon people whether they like it or not.
"You cannot really attack FTers of Parties as they are not members of the Unions, I'm sure FTers from SP and SWP over the years have assisted in campaigns against parnership, they key thing is members themselves organising campaigns!"
Read what I wtote, I didnt attackj DErmot, far from it. Dermot didnt just assist however he was on several occasions a member of the organising committee
"Pat is really coming across as an armchair activist, a vitual warrior, whatever you wanna call him."
I am active in GNAW, AFA, Anti charges etc? Mo one knows who you are. You are the virtual warrior.
"Pat, Why are you not involved in your Union? I know for a fact that there is a left caucus in your Union!"
A few people in the PSEU think its worth their while to try and build a left caucaus among middle mamagers. Fair dues to them, but my priorities are different.
I dont dance to Leninist tunes.
"You lecture from the safe distance of your keyboard, but you dont actually take part in activity."
You are a fool, my activities in a wide range of organisations are well known. Some of your acolytes are fuming elsewhere about my activities on day x at the us embassy & at the Top Oil garage (I was annoying workers or some such).
You are the anonymous imbecile, no know one knows what you do.
Lest we forget:
WHY DID THE SP VOTE AGAINST LOBBYING THE ICTU CONFERENCE?
The Socialist Party are making these attacks on you to divert attention from their lack of action.
What are they doing to achieve Industrial Action?
The President of the CPSU is in the SP. What is he doing in the CPSU about the Gulf War?
Michael O'Brien the SP Troika member is on the National Executive Council of the Public Service Executives Union. What is he doing in the PSEU about the Gulf War?
Is it true that the SP want to convince the ICTU leadership that despite their talk they are really a safe pair of hands? By not rocking the boat over Anti War action they hope to get full time Trade Unions jobs just like the WP (in the Geraghty/Rabbitt/ Gilmore era) used to.
Has Michael O'Brien got his eye on the Assistant General Secretary job coming up in the PSEU?
We are still waiting for the Socialist Party to respond to one simple question. Perhaps they have forgotten it.
To recap: the IAWM had a meeting on the Sunday prior to the ICTU conferece. At this meeting a motion was proposed that the IAWM lobby the ICTU conference. The SP opposed this.
Therefore the SP abscence from the the ICTU Conference had nothing to do with priorities or lack of resources. They were hostile to an Anti War lobby of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
Magneto is right about the SP diverting attention from their lack of action.
He is also correct about the SP wanting to convince the ICTU leadership that despite their talk they are really a safe pair of hands. They or the swp definitely wont rock the boat over the war. Sf and the swp are just as bad pretending to be concerned for party recruitment purposes.
I think it's wrong to attack people for holding positions in their unions and then blaming them for their Union not adopting a particular position. As anyone involved in Unions knows there are more people on an Executive than 1 or 2 members on the left. Leftwing people will argue against the war, or against partnership, but they can be out voted by rightwingers.
Next year I'll be on the UCDSU Executive. The fact is that its probably going to right-wing in character, this will limit my ability to get motions etc passed. Nevertheless I'm not going to give up, or just write students off as 'middle class' or 'middle management types'. The key thing for socialists is to struggle, raise your ideas, and to gain respect off genuine activists. For example last week a motion from UCD and WIT against the War was not accepted at the USI Congress. It would be very easy of me to write off USI and students in general, but rather it has confirmed my view of many involved in the USI and it shows the need to transform that organisation.
Whats at issue here is why the SP were absent from the ICTU conference. This has yet to be adequately addressed.
WARNING! Oisin, be careful, the party line has changed. Troika member O'Brien now admits the SP voted against lobbying the ICTU SDC. Doesnt give any logical rason why though. He also claims the SP didnt know the lobby was taking place!
What's this bull shit about a 'Troika'. You lot really have no idea about the SP! I find the whole thing a fucking laugh.
Answer the questions.