All International subcategories:
Europe keywords:
Northern Ireland
Highlight keywords |
Print this article
Search site for keywords: Water - Northern Ireland - Ireland
Northern Ireland
Water charges to be delayed?
SHOP STEWARDS and officials of the GMB union met Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain in Belfast on 20 March. A GMB press release says that Hain agreed to fund the postponement of the new and anti-working class water charges for one year until 1 April 2008 if the Northern Ireland assembly is set up next week.
If this is true (and it has not yet been confirmed by Hain) this would be the second time this controversial law has been postponed. It reflects the government and political parties' fears of a mass movement of angry working-class people.
The first thing the new assembly faced was implementing an unworkable law and being at the receiving end of a campaign of mass non-payment by hundreds of thousands of people.
Water charges were being threatened from 1 April as a way of privatising the service.
Members of the Socialist Party in Northern Ireland have played a leading role in organising the We Won't Pay Campaign to prepare for mass non-payment and build a movement with strong local roots and links within the communities. 150 people attended an all-Northern Ireland conference on 10 March.
The We Won't Pay Campaign has told the media that it still fights for total abolition of the water charges, not just their delay. It will still be organising its major demonstration on 31 March, the day before the charges were meant to come in, inviting all trade unions, anti-charges groups and activists to take part and get rid of water charges completely.
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
LATEST POSTS
12 May Stop Israeli state brutality
 |
9 May Post-election meetings
15 May Birmingham Socialist Party: How can we fight for socialist change and a new workers' party?
17 May Oxfordshire & Aylesbury Socialist Party: The role of the state
18 May Bristol North Socialist Party: Liverpool - history of socialist struggle
CONTACT US
Phone our national office on 020 8988 8777
Email: [email protected]
Locate your nearest Socialist Party branch Text your name and postcode to 07761 818 206
Regional Socialist Party organisers:
Eastern: 079 8202 1969
East Mids: 077 3797 8057
London: 075 4018 9052
North East: 078 4114 4890
North West 079 5437 6096
South West: 077 5979 6478
Southern: 078 3368 1910
Wales: 079 3539 1947
West Mids: 024 7655 5620
Yorkshire: 078 0983 9793
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999