Shame on the Labour Party

Once again the Labour Party covers itself in shame, said the general secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland, Eugene McCartan, responding to Brendan Howlin’s pushing through of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill (2013) to give him the power to cut workers’ wages, terms and conditions, and increment payments.

        “This is nothing less than a full-scale assault on public-sector workers by their employer, the state, and it will have repercussions far beyond public-sector workers.

        “Workers know from experience that laws are merely congealed politics, and that these measures will be followed up with demands by private employers to extend and expand the scope of this law in all branches of the economy.

        “The almost complete silence of important sections of the trade union movement is appalling. They have not moved beyond issuing mealy-mouthed statements of condemnation. They have failed to mobilise workers in defence of their rights and against these draconian attacks on their rights.

        “The very fact that this legislation is being pushed through is reason enough on principle to call for and mobilise for a rejection of the reheated Croke Park II.

        “The celebration to mark the 1913 Lockout by national trade union leaders ring very hollow in the light of recent events. They are still ideologically locked in to ‘social partnership,’ despite being the only partner on the dance floor: everyone else—government and bosses—have left that particular stage to them.”