Public Meeting on Water Charges

by Pat - None Fri Oct 29, 2004 20:19

As far as I can figure out, there is the Socialist Party go-it-alone Don't Pay Campaign; there is Communities Against the Water Tax backed by the Anti Poverty Network, Gingerbread, other NGOS as well as the SWP and Organise!. Then there is the Coalition Against the Water Charges which is run by the ICTU. All are against privatisation. So, why a fourth campaign? Is the left so unable to work together that all the different groups cannot work within the one campaign?

by Seamus O'Flaherty - Organise! Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:47

To let folk know that Jason Brannigan above is a member of Organise! Obviously, the poster was unaware of this!

No, and I don't think this is a fourth campaign, but just the name of the event.

by Jason Brannigan - Organise! Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:42

Last nights meeting did indeed see an attempt by Socialist Democracy to set up a new campaign and demand the 'correct' political leadership in any campaign against water reform - restructuring, privatisation and charging. This was not made clear to myself before the meeting althought the fact that a made up campaign name had been printed beside my name on the flyer (although not the poster or other announcements) was a bit odd.
As I said last night the way to build this campaign is door to door and street by street and on the basis of non-payment. Organise! will continue to be involved in the Communities Against the Water Tax and do not endorse the setting up of a third anti-water charges campaign. The ICTU 'led'/initiated coalition is just that, a coalition, and it includes members of the CAWT and indeed the SP We Won't Pay campaign.
A copy of my talk and a brief report will be posted to the Organise! website in the next day or so.