SIPTU West Cork District Council endorsed the union’s ‘Yes Equality’ campaign for marriage equality at a meeting in the Parkway Hotel, Dunmanway, County Cork, on Tuesday, 21st April. The meeting heard presentations on the reasons why the union is calling for a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming Civil Marriage Equality Referendum from SIPTU activists.SIPTU Equality Committee member, Suzanne Griffin, spoke about the need for workers and their families to vote ‘Yes’ to marriage equality on 22nd May.She said: “Equality is a core value of the trade union movement. Winning this referendum will ensure that workers in same sex relationships will stand a better chance of being valued as equal citizens. “This fight is part of the wider struggle that must be fought for all workers if we are to achieve fairness and justice in our society,” she added.The meeting was attended by SIPTU representatives from private, public and community sector workplaces.SIPTU College tutor and ‘Yes Equality’ committee member, Margaret de Courcey, said: “The union is fighting for a ‘Yes’ vote, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but also to ensure greater equality for the estimated 15,000 SIPTU members who identify as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender.“What we are saying is we will not accept our colleagues being discriminated against and that everyone should have the right to marry who they chose”.SIPTU West Cork District Council secretary, Eddie Mullins, said: “The ‘Yes Equality’ campaign has been a major success so far with SIPTU members clearly showing their support for the union’s principled position. What we need now is members, their families, friends and neighbours in West Cork to show their support for civil marriage and come out and vote ‘Yes’ on polling day.”
SIPTU West Cork District Council says ‘Yes’ to Equality
