TRALEE: Unions protest FiannaFail TD clinic

kerry | worker & community struggles and protests | news report Friday February 13, 2009 22:01 by sean moraghan - people before profit alliance (Tralee) earthsoulrocknroll at gmail dot com

Public sector workers target TDs

Public Sector workers in Tralee are holding protests outside the clinics of Kerry TDs, tomorrow, Saturday 14th February.

PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT ALLIANCE (Tralee) lends its full support to the Tralee union protests against the attacks on the Public Sector.

The demo will begin at the offices of Tom McEllistrim, Fianna Fail TD.

PbP local election candidate SEAN MORAGHAN says,

"The pension levy on public sector workers is an outrage. Many low and middle income employees, who have taken out large mortgages, simply cannot afford to pay it.

This levy is another name for a pay cut: An employee on €35,000, will pay €43 a week, an employee on €45,000 will pay an extra €63 a week.

This pay cut is on top of a 1 percent levy on gross income and the deferment of all wage rises due under the current partnership deal.

Public sector workers did not cause the economic mess.

While public sector workers are being attacked remorselessly, the government is putting up €8 billion to 're-capitalise' the banks.
Despite all the nonsense talk of a 'national effort' to solve the crisis, no extra taxes have been imposed on the super-wealthy.

Instead of bailing out bankers, the government should put money into saving the jobs at Waterford Crystal and other areas where people are being made redundant."

IMPACT
The protest is being organised by members of IMPACT, and will be joined by TUI, SIPTU, CPSU and PCU.