Demonstration at the Green Party Conference

national | worker & community struggles and protests | news report Saturday October 10, 2009 16:05 by PBPA - People Before Profit Alliance info at peoplebeforeprofit dot ie

United Alliance Against Cuts

The United Alliance Against Cuts, a new alliance of community groups, left and independent parties, trade unionists and workers today held a demonstration of around 100 people to lobby Green party members today.

The People Before Profit Alliance, Coca Cola workers currently on strike, the SIPTU-Community Sector, Shell to Sea activists, Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Youth and many others were present.

Leaflet to delegates

The protest called on the Green Party to oppose the NAMA bank bailout and the proposed cuts and to end it's participation in government.
Parent James McDonagh was thrown out of Green Party conference for trying to raise the issue of resources for special educational needs for his daughter, spoke at the protest.

Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit Alliance said "No matter what spin the government may put to it, if billions are poured into bailing out the bankers and developers, whose greed crashed the Irish economy, workers and the most vulnerable in our society will pay for it. If the NAMA plan goes ahead, tens of billions of public money will be transferred to bankers and away from vital public services desperately needed by our young people, senior citizens, the sick, the poor, and low paid workers".

This madness has to be stopped.

Rita Fagan, St. Michael's Estate and Canal Communities in a statement said "It's not fair that the poor are being asked to pay in terms of cuts to our community projects and cuts being planned for people at the bottom. It's an attack on the poor and most vulnerable communities. The poor can't pay and the poor won't pay".

The Alliance called on the Greens to reject NAMA and any plans to cuts in education, health, social welfare, vital community and public services or pay cuts for low-paid workers.

The Alliance called on the Greens to pull out of this discredited and bankrupt government and give the people of the country a chance to vote and decide what sort of government they want and what priorities it should have in dealing with the crisis.

James McDonagh speaks at the protest.