International union leader expresses support for Dublin protest and
Waterford and SR Technics workers
20th February 2009
Derek Simpson, joint general secretary Unite trade union,
addressed a meeting of Irish members of the union in Dublin today.
He expressed the support of over two million members of the union
around the world for the ongoing protests in Ireland against the
pension levy and the failure of political and financial leaders to
tackle effectively the crisis in employment which the country is
facing.
“These are times in which workers look to trade unions for
leadership and representation,” said Simpson addressing a meeting
called to prepare for tomorrow’s ICTU protest in Dublin. “The
battles being fought by Unite on behalf of workers at Waterford
Crystal, at SR Technics, in the finance sector and in the public
sector are showing the way for working people around the
world.”
“We cannot stand idly by and watch as the burden of recovering from
economic meltdown is heaped on the shoulders of those who can least
afford it, had least to do with its causes, and are least likely to
have enjoyed the benefit of the boom years.”
“Tomorrow you will march to make your anger known. In the
days and weeks after Unite will bring forward real solutions to
create a new and fairer version of partnership between those who
can afford to bear more financial pain and those who need their
support.”
“The phrase of social solidarity has been put forward in Ireland
and has gone around the world. It has to be social solidarity
based on standing shoulder to shoulder, not standing on the
shoulders of working people.”
“Make your voice heard in Dublin tomorrow. Your political
leaders will be listening and the world will be watching.”
ENDS
For further information or to book time for an interview with Derek
Simpson or with Jimmy Kelly, please contact:
Rob Hartnett, Director - Hartnett McClure PR, M: 086
3851955 E: rob@hmpr.ie
Email to a friend
Want to share this story? These sites allow you to tag and share links across the internet enabling you to share these links with friends and people with similar interests. You can also access your links from any computer you happen to be using.
