tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727561618191456901.post6795443876900081179..comments2024-03-28T05:29:25.961+00:00Comments on SINN FÉIN - KEEP LEFT: Coca Cola - The real thing when it comes to respecting workersmellowshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844166986997608405noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727561618191456901.post-69678037330801001992009-09-25T23:29:11.705+01:002009-09-25T23:29:11.705+01:00Gerry Adams was down at the Coca Cola protest in c...Gerry Adams was down at the Coca Cola protest in cork and writes about it in his blog<br /><br /><br />ttp://leargas.blogspot.com/2009/09/delay-on-transfer-cannot-go-on.html<br /><br />JAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727561618191456901.post-81574109736484422322009-09-25T11:02:00.196+01:002009-09-25T11:02:00.196+01:00We've been seeing this economic warfare agains...We've been seeing this economic warfare against wage earners being played out in Ireland for a very long time. When Irish ferries was able to blantantly discriminate against workers based on their nationality and govt wrung its hands (none so than the man of the people - De Bertie) of the whole affair, we truely witnessed a seminal moment in modern worker's welfare and history.<br /><br />The sentence that struck me most was that workers, whose jobs are not under threat, look with "disgust" upon those on strike. That sentence speaks volumes about current attitudes throughout society: "I'm alright jack, screw you."<br /><br />I'm sure SF is broadly supportive of the strikers and worker's issues in general. However, what we are witnessing is a wholesale capitulation of national govts across the world to so-called globalisation and the all powerful multinationals who glefully game national tax systems to boot.<br /><br />The SP will be the main beneficiaries in the working areas as their nationalisation programs directly address affected workers concerns. I just don't know how SF, by itself and without a broad alliance within the EU political scene, can address such issues.<br /><br />If we're honest the neo-liberal capitalist doctrine of capital accumulation is pretty much accepted by most governments and most of the average citizenry. They don't worry about long terms consequences (hence Harney's declaration that voters have short memories). Any collateral damage to living standards and the environment fostered by short-term profit motives is deeply entrenched in our collective national pysche. We're only too happy to game the US tax base in order to provide jobs in Ireland. (How many stikers would vote for a rise in Multinational Corp tax increases?)<br /><br />Maybe, on this one score, the SP and their like are correct to play the wait and see game. Despite the economic debacle and the payoff to banksters and property development gougers, the electorate only wants to hear news about a recovery - and a new credit card wouldn't go amiss either.<br /><br />It's my belief that unions should have a narrow and achievable remit. They exist to protect workers right, wages and benefits. Some Irish unions are doing great work in getting their workers a say in production practices and incentives through share ownership. Imo, this is the way to go. When the Unions joined the National Partnership agreement, they signed away their reason for existence. Specific Unions and Union Reps who understand their respective industries and what needs to be accomplished for their workers makes sense. Unions trying to run businesses or taking part in some grandoise national schemes are ineffective and actually create worse conditions for all wage earners in Ireland.<br /><br />On a side note, I've met some low level Union Reps at various SF gathering but I got the impression some were there as interested specatators more than active party members.<br /><br />Does SF have a nuanced policy with regard to Unions?xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17714769524873176633noreply@blogger.com