Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/478/2166
From The Socialist newspaper, 15 March 2007
Water charges:
We Won't Pay Campaign conference success
THE FIRST conference of the anti-water charges 'We Won't Pay Campaign' was held on Saturday 10 March. It was a highly successful conference in the run-up to the imposition of water charges on 1 April, with over 150 people attending from all areas of Belfast and surrounding towns and villages.
Pat Lawlor, UNISON member and We Won't Pay Campaign activist
Paul Dale, chairperson, opened the conference welcoming all attending and emphasising the escalating impetus of the We Won't Pay Campaign.
The two invited speakers Clare Daly Socialist Party councillor and anti-water charges activist from Dublin, and Steve Score former secretary of the Leicestershire Anti-Poll Tax Federation gave excellent accounts of their involvement in their respective campaigns.
Both speakers relayed essential tactical and strategic lessons for the non-payment campaign emphasising the importance of building strong roots and links in all communities.
Gary Mulcahy, secretary of the We Won't Pay Campaign, reported on the current legal state of affairs around non-payment. He also exposed the government's position saying that "the introduction of water charges was not about improving the infrastructure but was about privatisation"!
This opened questions from the floor which developed into a lively and active debate that allowed for clarification of issues and concerns of the local communities.
Two motions were put to the floor for discussion. The first was to have a major demonstration in Belfast on 31 March, the day before the introduction of water charges, openly inviting all trade unions, groups and activists who support non-payment. The second motion called for unity to build a mass non-payment campaign that is membership-based and democratically organised in local communities.
Both motions were resoundingly endorsed and passed unanimously by the floor.
Read the Socialist Party (Ireland) pamphlet
We Won't Pay!
How to Defeat Water Charges
By Gary Mulcahy - £3.00
Please add 10% post and packing.
Bulk orders post free.
Cheques payable to Socialist Books.
Send to PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD.
Credit/debit card payments 020 8988 8789.
Email bookshop@socialistparty.org.uk
or buy online at www.socialistparty.org.uk
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 15 March 2007:
£billions for rich... Pennies for us!
Socialist Party NHS campaign
UNISON Health group votes for summer demo
Socialist Party news and analysis
Lambeth council attacks services for vulnerable people
Barking BNP don't oppose council cuts
Lewisham council's outrageous attack
Kurdish asylum seekers living in fear
Northern Ireland and Scotland
Northern Ireland Assembly elections: Another sectarian headcount...
We Won't Pay Campaign conference success
Solidarity builds party profile ahead of elections
Marxist analysis: history
February revolution 1917 - what lessons for today?
International socialist news and analysis
US continues threats over Iran's nuclear ambitions
Iraq war: Convicted Bush official is 'fall guy' over WMD scandal
International Women's Day
Celebrating International Women's Day
Housing
Tenants vote no to council housing sell-off
Market-driven 'social housing' threatens tenants
Environment and socialism
Will government plans stop climate change?
Socialist Students
Build the campaign to defeat fees
International Socialist Resistance (ISR) and Socialist Students conference
Campaign for a New Workers Party
Trade Unions and the Labour Party: CWU branch asks some awkward questions
Campaign for a New Workers' Party conference
Workplace news and analysis
UNISON leaders lead members into dead end
PCS prepares for more struggles
Right wins lecturers' union leadership - on a 14% turnout
Home | The Socialist 15 March 2007 | Join the Socialist Party
Join us today!
Printable version
email to friend
