Ireland - Join 1% Network on the ICTU march

ireland / britain | workplace struggles | anarchist communist event Thursday November 25, 2010 18:18 by 1% Network - WSM & others

We want to make the 1% rich pay, not the compromise of 'fairer' cuts.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions have called a national demonstration on 27th November in Dublin which will see tens of thousands take to the streets. But many are very unhappy with the ICTU leadership and a march called on the basis of 'fairer' cuts and a return to the disastrous policy of Social Partnership. The 1% Network will be taking part in the demonstration - not to support the demands of the ICTU leadership, but to outline what we see as the alternative. This is not in the expectation that the ICTU leadership can be convinced but because we want to make the argument to the thousands of workers who will take part that it is up to all of us to organise what is needed, a general strike, despite that leadership.

The 1% network is organising for the day around the slogan 'The 1% have the Wealth - We have to take the Power.' We are going to meet up at 11.30 outside the Lord Edward pub

In 2007, the Bank of Ireland’s ‘Wealth of the Nation’ report revealed that 1% of the population owned 34% of the wealth. In October of this year, Cork Institute of Technology lecturer Tom O’Connor analysed what has happened to this wealth since then. His figures showed that the total ‘net worth’ (excluding the value of their principal residences and allowing for any borrowings) of the 33,000 Irish millionaires is still a whopping €121billion.

It is clearly both wrong and immoral that a small number of people should hold onto such vast wealth while the rest of us face savage attacks on our living standards and on our public services. More importantly, this concentration of wealth in a tiny number of hands means that political power is also concentrated in the hands of this elite. If we wish to re-shape society and to build a new society based on equality and real democracy, we need to find a way to take political power away from the wealthy elite.

Clearly those who have such power are not going to give it up easily. But we are many and they are few and we have the ability to organise to defeat them. The way in which they can be defeated is through the organisation of a general strike. They need our labour, by withdrawing it we can show where real power lies.

It’s clear that the ICTU leadership is not going to call the general strike needed for a real fightback to begin. After all they have accepted the government’s cuts agenda, they just want the cuts implemented over a longer period of time. Therefore it is up to each one of us in our workplaces, in our trade unions, in our residents and community associations to begin to build a strong, united campaign and to begin the process of working towards that general strike.

Don’t leave it to someone else. Get involved yourself in whatever small way you can. For more, including advice and ideas on how to get involved, visit http://www.onepercentnetwork.org

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If you want to join the 1% Network on the march and perhaps help hold banners, leaflet (the text will be similar to the above), and so on, you can RSVP on our Facebook page. We are going to meet up at 11.30 outside the Lord Edward pub (opposite Christ Church Cathedral)

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Press Release: “General Strike needed to take political power from the wealthy elite” – 1% Network

The 1% Network has called on all workers to attend the march organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on Saturday morning next to “show their opposition to the anti-people policies of the Irish government, the European Central Bank and the IMF”.

“It’s important that Saturday’s march is a large showing of public anger at the economic policies currently being implemented,” said Brian Leeson 1% Network spokesperson, “but we know that ICTU will not lead a real fightback.”

“In fact ICTU have accepted the government’s cuts agenda,” Mr. Leeson continued, “they just want them to be spread out over a longer period of time. What is needed therefore is that people use Saturday’s march as a springboard from which to organise a real fightback aimed at taking political power away from the wealthy elite and constructing a new society based on fairness, justice and equality.”

“1% of the population owns 34% of the wealth,” said Gregor Kerr, 1% Network spokesperson. “This concentration of wealth naturally leads to a similar concentration of political power. While this wealth and power divide exists, society can never be run in a fair and democratic manner.”

“But it doesn’t have to be like this,” went on Mr. Kerr. “Clearly those who have such power are not going to give it up easily. But we are many and they are few and we have the ability to organise to defeat them. The way in which they can be defeated is through the organisation of a general strike. They need our labour, by withdrawing it we can show where real power lies.”

“ICTU won’t organise such a general strike,” concluded Brian Leeson. “Therefore it is up to each one of us in our workplaces, in our trade unions, in our residents and community associations to begin to build a strong, united campaign and to begin the process of working towards that general strike. Our message is simple - The 1% have the wealth. We have to take the power.”

Statement Ends

Note to Editor: The 1% network is a coalition of socialist groups which has come together to oppose the cutback agenda of the government and to promote a socialist alternative to the current socio-economic system. Organisations within the coalition include éirígí, Irish Socialist Network, Seomra Spraoi and the Workers Solidarity Movement. The name of the coalition was chosen to highlight the fact that just 1% of the population control in excess of 34% of the wealth of the state.

For more information, contact Gregor Kerr 086 1501151 or Brian Leeson 086 8071010 or log onto http://www.onepercentnetwork.org