Student Walkout on Friday

by Mac Tíre Fri Dec 09, 2005 13:58

No wonder the USS won't call for a walkout. My suspicions that it is nothing but an Ógra FF front for aspiring careerist hacks have been confirmed.
People should know that their constitution was written in two days.Enough said.

by SR1916 Thu Dec 08, 2005 15:40

That quote was not from a Fianna Fáiler.

by FTA69 - Ógra Shinn Féin Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:16

Just to clarify the above point where someone quoted myself as being a member of Fianna Fáil, I'm a member of Ógra Shinn Féin who posts on their board occasionally. And I believe my organisation is supportive of this day of protest, (not sure about a school walkout though.)

by basta youth collective Wed Dec 07, 2005 22:44

FLYER:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b341/haskodisko/wlakouttheflyer.jpg

TO ALL STUDENTS:

Re: Job Displacement and Exploitation in Irish Ferries

The key issues of Job Displacement and Exploitation have been dramatically highlighted in the Irish Ferries Dispute.

The workers in Irish Ferries are battling to defend their jobs and agreed terms of employment, which have been upheld by the Labour Court. The Company intends to replace them with vulnerable workers paid less than the National Minimum Wage. To this end, they have employed strong-arm tactics the likes of which are unprecedented in modern Irish industrial relations. Their objective and the methods they have employed to achieve it have been roundly condemned across the social spectrum. In this regard alone, the workers in Irish Ferries deserve the full and unequivocal support of every Trade Union member and indeed every decent person in the country.

The issue, however, extends away beyond Irish Ferries because Job Displacement and Exploitation are already well underway in our economy. Indeed, it is very clear that the fight of the Irish Ferries workers is everybody’s fight.

Accordingly, we are requesting every student and worker to support the National Protest on Friday 9 December, which has been called in solidarity with the Irish Ferries workers, and to call on the Government to act to address the issues of Job Displacement, Exploitation and the Protection of Employment Standards.

We are also requesting every student and worker to participate in the protest rallies on that day and to endeavour, as far as possible, to persuade others, e.g. family members etc to do so as well.

The work conditions and health & safety conditions which we all take for granted are now being eroded by this move. Other employers are now watching, if this goes ahead, whose next???

Friday’s demonstration is an opportunity for all Irish workers and students to show our support for and solidarity with Irish Ferries workers in their battle against job displacement and exploitation. Their fight is our fight because if the company is successful in defeating the workers’ resistance it will open the floodgates for employers throughout the economy to slash wages and attack working conditions – a process which is already well under way.

As students we are the future work force. If Irish Ferries win this battle other employers will follow their example. We cannot sit by idly at such a crucial moment while our future rights of employment hang in the balance. We must make our voices heard and show our solidarity with the Irish Ferries Workers.

by stmaryrebel Wed Dec 07, 2005 19:25

Have it planned, sure maybe we won't get suspendd if all do it..

by bobcat Wed Dec 07, 2005 16:40

H, I believe in my last comment that I said I hope you did well in your leaving cert, not a hint of disdain. My problem with your comment is that you said that this was not an issue that immediatly concerned you or students in general. How many of your classmates have part time jobs, did you work this summer? This issue affects students now, it's not some distant prospect that grown ups should take care of for you.

by H Wed Dec 07, 2005 16:15

Further to that last comment, I'm insulted by your implication that I don't think these matters will ever effect me. How dare you? Of course I will have to deal with such things when I'm working, but I won't be working at all if I don't get a decent leaving cert, and that's in six months time. So, next time you accuse someone of apathy or cowardice, perhaps you might beforehand take into account that they may have their own problems to deal with first.

by H Wed Dec 07, 2005 16:11

No need for profanity bobcat. I did not deny the importance of this issue, or the disgrace of the actions of Irish Ferries management. However, I have a leaving cert that will affect my future even more so than this will and if this walkout goes ahead classes will be cancelled and my leaving cert will suffer for it. If people want to take a day off school to protest, fine, but attempting to disrupt school altogether isn't fair on those of us who need to study. Such resentment for someone who is concerned and ambitious regarding their own future is truly disdainful, you should be ashamed. It's easy for you to criticise me, but you don't have a leaving cert to do, and you're probably well established in life as it is. Were my head buried in the sand, why would I be talking to you?

by NCSW - National Committee for Student Walkouts Tue Dec 06, 2005 23:13 NCSW-Ireland at hotmail dot com

We have had plenty of positive feedback from students all across the country, looks like the walkout is go.

SOME TIPS FOR ORGANISING:
1. Pass the idea of a walkout to friends and students in your school and discuss your ideas and plans.

2. Setup a meeting with students from other schools and try to form a network. Email lists and phone lists are a start.

3. Make plans with your student group of where your walkout should go.

4. Spread the word to lots of students! Hand out flyers, talk it up, hang posters, etc.

5. Decide, based on the nature of your school, if you want administration included in your plans or not. It could make or break your walkout in some cases.

by bray student Tue Dec 06, 2005 23:06

Who elected USS? not me. in fact tehy represent a tiny amount of schools in ireland. i will be calling a SC meeting tommorow to discuss this.

by bobcat Tue Dec 06, 2005 22:13

You know what "H" you go and do your leaving cert and I hope you do well and when you get out of school or college I hope you get a job that pays more than 3.80 an hour. But sure you don't need to worry about any of that job malarkey cause it'll never effect you, you can just bury your head in the fucking sand. Solidarity? is that on the leaving cert these days? Guess not

by martin meany - CellarDoor Tue Dec 06, 2005 21:54

is the head of secondary students walkout commitie in a secondary skool, or just someone thinkin they know best?

by Cian - SY Tue Dec 06, 2005 21:31

Hey,
Just to clarify, SY are not behind this group. We are however also calling for a student walk-out this friday and are distributing leaflets in limerick cork and dublin. I echo the sentiment and fears of these students. It is a ridiculous situation that we fin ourselves in now. And on the USS i feel that they should be calling a walk out as i have argued repeatedly but the USS has serious problems. Its is only the top level of officals without any base. it has inheritedll the problems of trade unions nowadays and none of the positives of the old TU movemnt. I would like to appeal to NCSW memebr to consider discussiong with Socialist Youth to see how much we can agree on on this and other issues as cooperation is vital on the left especially when we are arguing such a silmilar line. I would be curious to know in what cities you are based?
Anyway, check out the SY and SP websites:
www.SocialistYouth.cjb.net and www.SocialistParty.net
We campaign on a wide varierty of issues from an anti-capitalist, socialist perspective. We play a important role in many unions and in many campaigns, most notably the bin tax battle where we lead the fight against double taxation and also in the water charges n the south in the past and currently in the north.

We believe that in order to overthrow capitalism a revolutionary organiation is neccisary to bring together the most advanced/progressive workers and young people and discuss ideas and carry them out in action to spread the ideas of socialism and to fight capitalism at all times.

I would urge you to consider discussing with us about this issue and, as i said, other, broader issues to see where we stand, build unity with the aim of maximising our impact.
thanks,
Cian

by H Tue Dec 06, 2005 20:57

I'm a secondary school student, and while I do not consider the USS to be my representatives in any way, they are correct to have not called for a walkout. While it is important to display solidarity with the strikers, if you're doing the leaving cert then you can't afford to miss school days, especially for the sake of an issue that isn't immediately infringing upon the rights of students (as the ASTI strikes did). It is the place of other Trade Unions to show support for them, not students.

This is not a "great idea", nor does it "make sense", least of all to people who are focused on achieving a good leaving cert. Simply put, if you're in 5th or 6th year and you're talking about staging a walkout (that isn't a protest against something which is disrupting your study) then you shouldn't even be there in the first place.

by Social Tue Dec 06, 2005 19:26

SY are behind the NCSW !!!!

by Questions Tue Dec 06, 2005 19:19

Anyone know what:

Labour Youth
Young Greens
Ogra Shinn Fein
Connolly Youth Movement
Socialist Youth


think of this?

Just wondering....

by Ham Tue Dec 06, 2005 19:17 0871371509

I think this is a great idea, I'm going to print a few hundred flyers and spread them through my school, I think this will be the easiest and most effective way of spreading the word.

Consider this idea and get the word out there to get a good turn up at the rally.

by hmmm.. Tue Dec 06, 2005 17:29

The youth against war guts or the school students against the war guts?

by haha! Tue Dec 06, 2005 17:18

"Spot on, nothing like a bit of radicalism amongst the youth, it's sadly lacking nowadays. Power to the People!"

Ógra Fianna Fáil Bulletin Board discussion

by bobcat Tue Dec 06, 2005 17:09

"However the Union will not declare a national walkout on an issue that does not directly affect students" What a load of my arse. Would the USS care to tell us how many secondary school students work shitty weekend jobs, christmas jobs, summer jobs? Like the original poster said this will effect you eventually, you're not going to be in school forever. Stop being so fucking parochial

by Ok Tue Dec 06, 2005 16:55

The forum is too big.

38 members!!!

by dfghj Tue Dec 06, 2005 16:41

If you think the USS should Walkout and you are a student then tell them that ... they do have their own forums you know ...

http://www.ussonline.net

by em Tue Dec 06, 2005 16:28

I think you should!

by Paul Tue Dec 06, 2005 16:28

And John, you can be today's popular hate figure, tomorrow's popular hate figure, and the popular hate figure of the future, if you ever have the guts to appear in public. See how your cothinkers Dan McLoughlin and Eamon Delaney got roasted for expressing the same obnoxious views and get a sense of how isolated you are. It's not just the mythical "looney left" - public opinion is united against you and your heroes in Irish Ferries management. I suggest you volunteer to take one of the €3.50 jobs on board - keep our free enterprise economy going eh?

by Oisin O' Reilly - Union of Secondary Students, Ireland Tue Dec 06, 2005 16:24 info at ussonline dot net

The Union of Secondary Students, Ireland, the official representative body of secondary students in Ireland has not declared a National Walkout on Friday as has been suggested.

The Union is fully supportive of ICTU and the other Trade Unions in their dispute with employers. However the Union will not declare a national walkout on an issue that does not directly affect students.

We would however encourage students to take to the streets if they wish to protest and to excerise their democratic rights.

Is Mise Le Meas

Oisín O' Reilly
Deputy President/ Campaigns Officer
Union of Secondary Students, Ireland

by Curious Tue Dec 06, 2005 15:53

You talking to USS at all!

by tom smiff Tue Dec 06, 2005 15:42

ITS AN SWP FRONT GROUP,AAHHH!!!*



*(im joking,it might not)

by NCSW Tue Dec 06, 2005 14:46

and they obviously didn't teach it very well in yours either.

by John Tue Dec 06, 2005 14:38

You'll only be tomorrow's workforce if Ireland continues to pursue the same low-tax pro-enterprise policies that have been so successful in the past decade and a half. If it doesn't, you'll be tomorrow's unemployed. Do they teach late twentieth-century economic history in your school? I suggest you read up on it.

by pat c Tue Dec 06, 2005 14:18

its a pity that teachers who are such great trade unionists wont recognise thar school students have the right to strike as well. if any teachers victimise you, identify them , especially if they are asti or tui activists.

by NCSW Tue Dec 06, 2005 14:04

A clandestine nationwide collective formed from the guts of the Iraq and teachers strike walkouts.

Schools do not like students organising and as such we cannot openly use our names.

We use the internet and txt msg's to spread our msg like wildfire.

All Out!

by John Tue Dec 06, 2005 13:48

Sounds great and is a good initiative. Just wondering whos behind or connected with this NCSW or is it a piss take.

by Interesting Tue Dec 06, 2005 13:35

Makes sense to do one.

Hope its succesful.

by NCSW Tue Dec 06, 2005 12:59

All Out!