NIPSA backs protest against water charges
antrim |
worker & community struggles and protests |
news report 
Wednesday March 29, 2006 13:26
by non-payer - We Won't Pay Campaign
wewontpay at btconnect dot com
07743282321
Support for protest grows
1pm Saturday 1st April outside Belfast City Hall
NIPSA BACKS PROTEST AGAINST WATER CHARGES
1pm Saturday 1st April outside Belfast City Hall
Northern Ireland's largest trade union has called for people to join the We Won't Pay Campaign's protest against water charges outside Belfast City Hall at 1pm on Saturday 1st April.
NIPSA President Billy Lynn announced that Saturday's protest would mark the 12-month countdown to mass non-payment of water charges.
'If Peter Hain continues to ignore the opposition of the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland to this unjust tax, he should be answered with mass non-payment of water charges next April.
'The government vowed to Make Poverty History last year, but the introduction of charges will lead to further impoverishment across Northern Ireland. Water charges are a complete rip-off, we are already paying for water through the rates, which continue to rise and rise.
'Every community across the North needs to get organised to fight water charges. NIPSA lends it's full support to the protest called by the We Won't Pay Campaign and we call on people to attend the protest on Saturday 1pm outside Belfast City Hall.'
The protest is also supported by the Fire Brigades Union, Queens Students Union, Socialist Party, Organise!, plus many more
www.wewontpay.tk
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Comments (8 of 8)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8NIPSA has decided to back the protest in line with conference policy. NIPSA conference passed the following motion last year
'Conference recognises that a mass campaign of non - payment is the only way to defeat water charges. Conference calls on the General Council to publicly support non payment of water charges.'
... www.wewontpay.cjb.net
Lets put our feet on the street.
Bring banners, friends, placards etc - lets send out a message and drive forward on this essential issue - under the banner of the We wont pay Campaign.
regardless of who organised this and im sure some peolpe will have problems, i really hope theres a good turnout for this. Its been really well built by the socialsit party in belfast. Not sure whats happening anywhere else.
anyway hope all goes well
Can anyone post a story and photos of the rally. How did it go? Was it the success we all hoped for? Who else turned up?
I was at the meeting on Saturday. I must admit I had hoped to see a few more there. However those that were there must be encouraged by the fact that such a wide cross section of the comunity was represented. A pensioner in the crowd was able to point to where the old "Water rates" office had been. This was where he paid his water bills before the water rates were amalgamated with the district rates. One of the many facts that this Government have conveniently forgotten. No one there could of disagreed with any of the sentiments from the platform. Unfortunately there seems to of been some kind of media blackout of the occassion. As far as I could see the "Sunday Life" didn't cover the event. UTV didn't deem it important enough for a mention. The BBC gave it a brief mention a "Blink and you'll miss it" clip on the news but failed to give any air time to the many valid points made on the day. It seems we'll have to fight with the media as well as the government.
Belfast city beat said 3- 500 although I would say 2-300. The ICTU CAWT lead rally a few days prior had 30 or so.
around 150 at the protest
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