by Alan Jacques
(pic: David Vallely)
LIMERICK Anti Austerity Alliance councillors predict that if the government doesn’t scrap the water charges after this Wednesday’s protest in Dublin, they face mass non-payment next April.
Citing recent opinion polls, City North AAA councillor Cian Prendiville, said that despite their so-called concessions on water charges, the government was gaining no traction whatsoever. Their support had plummeted particularly that of Joan Burton, whose “honeymoon period as new Labour leader is clearly over”.
“They haven’t and won’t be able to stem the revolt underway against water charges and austerity in general,” Cllr Prendiville warns.
He also claimed that recent figures for intent on payment of water charges can be no solace for the government, with 33 per cent already making their minds up not to pay, just four months before the first bill.
According to AAA councillor John Loftus, a strong boycott campaign in the new year will increase the non-payment figures by reassuring those who feel pressured to pay, that no penalties will apply until after the general election.
AAA councillor Paul Keller labelled the government as “callous” and removed from the hardships resulting from their cuts to rent allowance, rising rents and low pay.
“This is why the government wants to forcibly deduct the water charge from those who don’t own their own homes — the only group who can have this done to them. The government can be forced back on this plan if tenants organise and campaign,” he said.
