Chamber distances itself from president’s call for 20% wage reduction
WITH almost 3,400 under 25’s signing on in Limerick, the Socialist Youth party has planned a day of discussion to highlight the current unemployment situation, at the Pery Hotel on Saturday, at 1pm.
This follows their recent street picket of Limerick Chamber offices on O’Connell Street,
in protest against paycuts in wages and threats to the minimum wage.
Emphasising that Limerick Chamber does not have a problem with any organisation exercising its democratic right to protest, its chief executive, Maria Kelly, claims that the Limerick Socialist Youth misunderstands the Chamber’s position.
“Our official view is that costs across the board in this country have to come down in order for us to regain our competitiveness and attract investment.
“The recent proposal to reduce wages by 20% is the personal view of our president, Harry Fehilly, (as reported by the Limerick Post some weeks ago), as it is something he feels strongly about.
“We do support his view that wages have become too high, and that this is why we’re seeing so many multinationals pull out of Ireland, but it is not a policy or proposal of the Chamber to cut by 20%.
“Any reduction in wages has to be done in a fair and appropriate manner that protects the most vulnerable in our society and also is in conjunction with overall cost reductions particularly in the area of energy and services.
The Limerick Socialist Youth day of discussion on Saturday is designed to provide a forum for unemployed people and those who have been forced to accept reduced wages and cutbacks.
The debate will also focus on the effects the economic crisis is having on young people.
Socialist Youth spokesperson, Richard Marton, points out that there are now almost 3,400 under 25’s signing on in Limerick.
“When we consider a possible cut to the minimum wage and the introduction of third level fees, we see how young people’s future is under attack, which is why we picketed the Limerick Chamber of Commerce under the slogan – We Aren’t Monkeys – We Won’t Work for Peanuts”.
Referring to the predicted cut in the minimum wage, he says:
“”We decided to protest outside the Limerick Chamber offices because they embody this attempt to make ordinary people pay for the crisis and their recent attack on wages and proposal for a 20 per cent cut of all wages is a disgrace, as is their support for the savage Bord Snip report.”
Mr Marton contends that instead of ordinary people being penalised, blame should be placed on all the major banks, the companies, De Beers/Element Six and RR Donnelly/Banta, for “massacring hundreds of jobs after making millions out of the region” and many of the construction companies “whose speculation and greed helped crash the economy.
“Our day of discussion will commence at 1pm with a debate between Ogra Sinn Fein and Socialist Youth on the motion – What is the Left Solution to the Capitalist Crisis? At 2.30pm we will have a discussion introduced by a Socialist Party speaker on the 1930s crash on the Stock Exchange, asking the question – Was Marx Right?
Socialist Party spokesperson, Cian Prendiville says the time is now opportune to debate the best way forward
“Facing into the worst economic crisis in 80 years, now is the time to have another look at the ideas of Karl Marx. Saturday’s event is an opportunity for ordinary people to come along and discuss alternatives to the capitalist crisis that is hitting them so hard”
Emphasising their belief that cuts to pay, jobs and services will make the economic crisis worse, Socialist Youth believe that the more pay is slashed the less money people will have to spend, which will further deepen the downwards spiral of the economy.
We’re Not Monkeys, We won’t work for Peanuts… Ann Orr, Cian Prenderville and Barry Lydon of the Socialist Youth protest on O’Connell Street, Limerick about protecting the minimum wage .
