ICTU SELL OUT

antrim | bin tax / household tax / water tax | press release Wednesday October 15, 2003 21:33 by Trade unionist

knife in the back for the prisoners

In a statement today ictu caused further damage to the anti bin tax movement by restating the position of the GS David Begs on 25 September.
The knife went in further when ictu failed to call for the release of the prisoners and called for the campaign to halt effective action, a tactic that would bring the heroic resistance to the bin tax to an end.

ictu appears to have lost all contact with union members. It is time we took back our unions.

ICTU STATEMENT ISSUED TODAY

The Executive Council of Congress held its monthly meeting in Dublin today in the course of which it reviewed the current Bin Tax controversy.

The Executive Council endorsed the statement issued on 25 September, 2003 by the General Secretary which, inter alia, reaffirmed our strong concerns about the inadequacy of funding for local services and the regressive nature of proposals for local charges but differed with the tactics of the bin protestors.

In that context it views with concern the deteriorating situation on the ground and the potential for people to be hurt or injured. It reiterates the view, expressed in the statement of 25 September, that a sense of proportion and tolerance should inform all parties involved. In that regard it calls on the authorities to declare a moratorium of two weeks on any further legal proceedings against protestors. It calls on the protestors to confine themselves to activities, which are within the law, and to desist from obstructing local authority workers. Everyone has responsibility now to try to cool things down and prevent matters getting out of control.

Congress has arranged to meet government next week to press its case for an equitable and progressive approach to tax policies, consistent with the principle of a person's ability to pay. It has made a detailed pre-budget submission including proposals for an alternative approach to financing of local authority services based on empowering local authorities to raise revenue from windfall land sales and re-zoning decisions.