Today there is a demonstration organised by the 24/7 Frontline Services Alliances against the government’s attacks on the public service. Here Joe Higgins outlines why they should be supported.
The government has effectively declared war on the public sector and public sector workers. Workers such as nurses and firefighters provide essential services to people on a daily basis. They are now being scapegoated for the economic crisis, while those that are responsible, the bankers and speculators, are bailed out to the tune of billions of euros.
The government’s plans would not only result in drastic reductions in already low wages for many public sector workers, they would result in a real destruction of vital public services. Our health service is already grossly underfunded and tragic cases like that of Susie Long bear witness to that. Now, however, they intend to go even further with their destruction of vital public services, that will have drastic effects on the level of service provided. A united struggle led by the trade union movement will be necessary to defeat these plans.
I applaud those public sector workers who demonstrate today, they are defending public services for all. In order to defeat this government’s attacks, it will be necessary to go further. The planned public sector strike on 24 November is vital. I call on the trade union leadership to turn this into a 24 hour general strike of all workers, in the public and private sector. Such a united struggle against paycuts and cutbacks for all workers could defeat this government.
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