Unions call on pressed workers to join march

Several leading trade unions have urged private and public sector workers who are struggling financially to join an anti-austerity march in Dublin on Nov 24.

The Dublin Council of Trade Unions, one of the organisers of the demonstration, aims to put pressure on the Government to reverse some of the cuts of €3.6bn in next month’s budget.

Its president, Michael O’Reilly, said it was clear that the Government’s policy of austerity measures was not working because of its devastating impact on the domestic economy. Instead, the Government should focus on driving growth through a major stimulus package, he said.

He warned that December’s budget was likely to push many people “over the edge”, as they had already endured five budgets that had drastically reduced their living standards.

“Austerity has been an economic failure and a social catastrophe,” said Mr O’Reilly. “We need to stop trying to cut our way out of this crisis and instead invest and grow our way out.”

Acknowledging that the Government had limited room for manoeuvre, Siptu president Jack O’Connor said it still had options and urged the Government to shift the burden of financial adjustment onto those who could afford it.

While describing the level of pensions paid to some former senior bank executives as “quite obscene”, Mr O’Connor said the issue should not distract from the need to address the key concern of the redistribution of wealth in society.

Eoin Ronayne of the Civil and Public Service Union, said it was necessary that high earners should pay a higher rate of tax.

Mr O’Reilly predicted “way in excess of 10,000” would march on Nov 24.