Plea to workers over tsunami aid

Unions leaders today called on workers to sacrifice a fraction of their pay to raise €2m to rebuild thousands of communities wiped out by the Asian tsunamis disaster.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions urged employees to donate one hour’s pay, or offer a set amount of their wages, during the month of February to the massive relief effort.

It is hoped the Time for Asia campaign could generate more than €2m for aid agencies working in the stricken Indian Ocean region.

“We are conscious of the fact that Irish workers have already given generously to the appeal,” David Begg, Congress General Secretary, said.

“However, the focus of Time for Asia is on long-term rebuilding: helping people get back to work, rebuilding infrastructure and assisting the survivors in rebuilding their shattered lives.”

It is hoped modest but widespread donations could prove pivotal in saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of people left homeless and at risk from disease.

The campaign comes on top of more than €20m raised by six of the main aid agencies. Revellers donated €1m over the New Year, while collections at weekend Masses around the country, which have yet to be counted, could hit the €10m mark.

Two of the country’s largest unions – SIPTU and Impact – also promised to make significant contributions to the fund.

The ICTU campaign is being run as unions around the world launched fundraising initiatives to support relief workers in south east Asia.

Unions in North America have launched appeals, as have the TUC in Britain and the ACTU in Australia. And in India rail workers have donated a proportion of their pay towards relief efforts in their own country.

Meanwhile, Oxfam Ireland has appealed for the donation of warehouse space to help it deal with the huge public response to its Asian tsunami appeal.

The charity said it needed 5,000 square feet of space to store clothing donated to Oxfam shops since the St Stephen’s Day disaster.

The aid agency said it had received more than €750,000 in donations for the tsunami victims.