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2009

SIPTU General Secretary Joe O’Flynn says ‘cruel, uncaring’ Budget an obstacle to recovery

Date Released: 10 Dec 2009

SIPTU General Secretary Joe O’Flynn has told a meeting in Cork today to celebrate the Union’s Centenary that it would not betray its heritage and would continue to defend the interests of working people in the present crisis.

“Not for the first time do we face challenging economic times”, he said. “In that respect, we must strive to ensure that we do whatever is necessary to protect existing jobs and create and attract new jobs so that we can rebuild confidence in our economy.  We must lift the doom and gloom that prevails throughout society and replace it with hope.  We must give a measure of security in respect of people’s homes and their livelihoods.

“Unfortunately, this week’s budget did nothing to address the issue of jobs and jobs creation. It was a truly cruel, uncaring and unfair budget that attacked the most vulnerable while letting the super-rich off scot free again. It also represents a clear attempt to further impose a vicious wage cutting strategy across all sectors of the workforce.

“We must recognise that a policy of dividing workers, public or private, will not serve to restore our country’s economic ills.  Indeed, the vicious assault on public workers over the past few months, while severely denting their morale, has not taken from the enormous commitment of decent hard working men and women, best illustrated by their tremendous response in the recent flood disasters which affected this city and county, as well as other parts of the country. The true value of public sector workers was there for all to be seen 24 hours a day until essential services were restored.

“I can assure you of one thing. Just as this Union and its members have been fighting for fairness at work and justice in society in this city for the past 100 years we are prepared to continue that fight in order to secure the prosperity and progress that the people of Cork, members of SIPTU, and non members, all deserve.    That way we can have a future which will allow us all to use our talents and skills in the most productive and positive fashion, thus restoring the prosperity that is possible for all to share in”.

He added that SIPTU “has had a long and proud relationship with this our second city. The emergence of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union one hundred years ago in 1909 and its subsequent development - until the merger with the Federated Workers Union of Ireland in 1990 creating SIPTU - is synonymous with this great city.

“In its very first year, Cork was the scene of a brutal lock-out when members of the ITGWU were subjected to physical intimidation, legal force and actual starvation as employers, unsuccessfully, sought to break the newly formed Union.

“In 1920, at the height of the War of Independence, it is widely known that the City Hall was burned down by British military forces but they also went on to destroy the offices of the ITGWU on Camden Quay during that same year.

“Through the decades, the Union was identified with the major industries associated with Cork including the since closed Ford and Dunlop’s factories. During more recent times, the Union has been identified with many of the city’s biggest employers including the leading pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizers and, of course, Murphy’s brewery, now owned by Heineken.

“Some of this city and county’s most famous sporting legends have been members of this great union including hurling’s brightest star, the bould Christy Ring.

“And of course, colleagues, some of the occupants of high political office including former Lord Mayors Jim Hickey, Frank Nash, Pat Kerrigan, Joe O’Callaghan  - and, I’m proud to say, even myself - have been officials and activists  of our Union.

The impressive “Statue of Working Men” known fondly in this city as “Cha and Mia” that stands proudly outside of County Hall was donated to the people of Cork having originally been commissioned for Liberty Hall in Dublin.”





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