Get out on the Streets and Protest

Stop the Bail-Out of the Banks

Oppose Levies on PAYE Workers

A Public Works Programme to create Jobs

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Assemble 16th May, 2.30pm

Central Bank, Dame St., Dublin

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On May 16th, trade unions from all over Europe will march in support of a European Trade Union Congress call to ‘Fight the Crisis – Put People First’. We should join them on the streets of Dublin and make our voices heard.

Facebook members hit 100

At the time of writing, we’ve just hit 100 members on our Facebook Group. This isn’t a huge number by itself but it does go to show that there is genuine support for grassroots mobilisation amongst you all and we thank you for your support.

If you’re on Facebook and wish to show your support, please join the group. thanks!

Speakers for Saturday Protest

We are happy to have some speakers confirmed for Saturdays protest. We will have someone from both Visteon and Waterford Glass as well as Dr. Roland Erne.

We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.

Promoting Saturdays Protest

Event at AIB EGM/AGM

We swung by AIB Bankcentre in Ballsbridge this morning where they were holding an EGM and their AGM this afternoon. We met one stranger, a gentleman who said he had been ejected from the meeting for throwing a rotten egg at Dermot Gleeson. Apparently he could contain his anger no longer when Gleeson barked at a heckler to sit down while he was speaking.

Pictured, our costumed volunteers hold a cheque from PAYE workers to the banks – the wolf represents greed and deceit while the rabbit represents the meagre and mild mannered response of the government to such greed and deceit.

In his speech at the beginning of the EGM, Gleeson said “With hindsight I regret some of the lending decisions that were made, particularly in relation to property development here in Ireland.”

Posters and Leaflets – Download and Distribute

We have finalised our posters and leaflets for the protest on May 16th. You can download the files below.

Some users may need to right-click and select their appropriate download option.

Poster

European_protest_A4_Web_Version
345KB – PDF Format – A4 Size
This is a smaller file size and best used for email distribution, small printers etc.

European_protest_A4_Printing_Version
7.6MB – PDF Format – A4 Size
This is a large file size and best used for printing high quality posters only.

Leaflet

european_protest_leaflet
64KB – PDF Format – 2 Sheets per A4 Size
Pages can be printed and cut in two.

Please also place copies of these files, link to these files or preferably link to this post from your web sites and help spread the word. Thank You.

What will change in your pay?

You may be aware that from week ending 1 May 2009 there are three to five major changes in pay which may affect you.

1. The Health levy is raised by 2% – the health levy does not appear as a separate deduction on your payslip – it is part of your PRSI contribution. So depending on whether you pay at Class A or D will determine your new rate.
2. The 1% Levy has been raised to 2% – if you earn less than €15,028 in a given year then you are exempt from the levy. However, if you earn more than €15,028 then the levy applies to all of your income.
3. Those who enjoy child benefit will also see that benefit reduced.
4. Those with Mortgage Interest relief of over 7 years will see the ending of the TRS payment from their mortgage provider around May 2009.
5. Those earning over €52,000 will pay increased PRSI in the final months of the year as the ceiling has been raised.

Get out on the streets on the 16th of May and show your opposition to these unjust measures.

National Recovery Talks – Dead in the Water?

Recent media coverage would indicate that both Unions and the Government are all but publicly admitting talks on a national economic recovery plan are coming to an end with no agreement being reached.

David Begg, General Secretary of the ICTU, speaking to RTÉ, said that there was nothing more the unions could say to the Government about its proposals for economic recovery through a social solidarity pact and it had been clear from the talks that the Department of Finance was in the dominant role in Government affairs. Larry Broderick of the Irish Bank Officials Association said it was unacceptable that the Government had not come up with a strategy to tackle the unemployment crisis while Betty Tyrell Collard of the Civil and Public Service Union described the talks as a ploy, a sentiment echoed by IMPACT General Secretary Peter McLoone. Speaking on radio last week, General President of SIPTU Jack O’Connor said he does not believe there will be a partnership deal while yesterday Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin has said that a deal will not be reached with the social partners at any cost.

Read more on RTÉ.ie:

Hanafin – Govt has partnership deal limits
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0503/partnership.html

Begg pessmistic on chances of recovery plan
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0505/economy.html

‘Old-style’ partnership deal unlikely
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0501/economy.html

Irish Times Article – Wed, Apr 29, 2009

Excerpts from a recent article by Vincent Browne in the Irish Times, following a briefing on the spring 2009 economic commentary of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

The Government deficit will be worse than the Government says it will be for this year. It will have to take another €4 billion in spending cuts and increased taxes next year.

There was a consensus among those present that, whatever happens,…. it was certain the banks would cost us a lot.