Month: April 2013
Euro crisis engulfs Cyprus
The troika’s bail-out package is an economic and social disaster for the people of Cyprus. How was prosperity so suddenly transformed into penury?
Trade union movement must act against sectarianism
The fall-out from the controversy around the flying of the union flag at Belfast City Hall brought into sharp relief the deep, sectarian divisions which remain a reality of life in Northern Ireland. Tensions were decisively heightened and feelings have been hardened in both communities.
Is the government prepared to leave austerity behind?
Should a government Minister be allowed to make a far reaching statement that sharply contradicts the thrust of government policy and not be immediately challenged as to the practical implications? If the media afforded acres of coverage to such a statement, should it not then demand that the Minister spell out what concrete action she/he proposed to take if the statement was to mean anything more than empty posturing?
Public meeting: 1913 women & the lockout
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the 1913 lockout when the bosses of Dublin tried to starve the working class of Dublin into submission and smash the emerging Irish Transport and General Workers Union (ITGWU) led by Jim Larkin and James Connolly.
US: After the Boston tragedy – No to racism & repression
This past week in Boston has been almost surreal—a horrific attack occurred on Marathon Monday that shouldn’t be seen in this city or anywhere in the world. Countless acts of solidarity occurred starting with people running towards the explosion to help the hundreds caught in the path of devastation. Marathon runners endured another two miles to give blood, and countless Bostonians opened their homes to the stranded.
The most open challenge yet to this government’s policies
The rejection by public sector workers of the proposals in the Croke Park 2 agreement that would further savage their incomes and conditions is hugely significant in that it demonstrates that people’s tolerance to austerity is running out fast and that has very serious political implications for the government.
Review: The Provisional IRA
In Northern Ireland, the Provisional IRA was a central force from the 1970s onwards in what is euphemistically known as ‘The Troubles’.
EU-US Free Trade Agreement: Race to the bottom of the Atlantic
A lot of ink has been spilt in the mainstream media, praising the role a free trade agreement between the EU and the US could play in pulling the two economies out of the crisis they are engulfed in. Richard Bruton outdid himself in the Sunday Business Post on 14 April 2013, claiming “abolishing restrictions in the EU’s services sector alone could boost EU GDP by 2.6%.” Three days later a press release from him claimed that the whole deal could boost EU GDP by a mere 0.5%!
Britain: Survey diverts focus away from power of working class
"Emergent service workers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains" doesn't have the same ring to it, was one response to the recently published Great British Class Survey, which itself concluded that traditional social divisions of upper, middle and working class are out of date in 21st century Britain.
Croke Park II – No vote puts government & Troika on the ropes
Speaking following the 'No' vote on the Croke Park II deal Paul Murphy MEP commented: I warmly welcome the decisive No votes from SIPTU, the INMO and the INTO announced this afternoon, which alongside the No votes from several other unions have killed off Croke Park II and has knocked the government and the troika onto the ropes.