tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727561618191456901.post8484767679996108105..comments2024-03-28T05:29:25.961+00:00Comments on SINN FÉIN - KEEP LEFT: Sinn Féin supporters the workers! Or do we?mellowshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12844166986997608405noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727561618191456901.post-28181596220643277662009-07-08T18:33:17.915+01:002009-07-08T18:33:17.915+01:00Barbarism,
I expect Caoimhghin to support working ...Barbarism,<br />I expect Caoimhghin to support working people and help to defend their interests and i expect all of Sinn Féin to do the same.<br />In relation to the statement being a concern for socialists, well I disagree. It calls on agreements to be kept and workers and management to negotiate from there. To me organised workers defending their interests, but having realistic obtainable goals and objectives is what we need.<br /><br />To me my approach to socialism is laid out in the post I referred you to earlier. It says<br /><br />I no longer believe in a revolutionary road to socialism in any country where people have the right to vote and a parliamentary democracy is in place. In such countries alternative avenues for pushing social and economic reforms exist and I feel that socialists should pursue those avenues. <br /><br />Yes, I am aware of who controls the media and economic power in such societies, but to me the price of a socialist revolution is too high and unlikely to gain the support of the people. <br /><br />SO, ARE YOU A SOCIAL DEMOCRAT OR A SOCIALIST? <br /><br />I don’t really know the difference. If social democrat means that I support parliamentary democracy and advocate that working people organise parliamentary parties (and any other form of organisation they wish) to push for change, then yes I am a social democrat. If by socialist you mean the same thing, then yes I am a socialist.starry ploughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01481013510515056679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727561618191456901.post-61514382387794902662009-07-08T17:41:19.323+01:002009-07-08T17:41:19.323+01:00Thanks. We have run a detailed series on Sinn Fein...Thanks. We have run a detailed series on Sinn Fein which you might want to visit at our site. <br />This statement by Sinn Fein, while on the surface is welcome, is a cause for further concern for socialists. The underlying premise is that if the employers pay what they agreed for the past that workers will accept pay cuts for the future this 'different economic reality'. <br />This 'reality' is grounded on neo-classical economics which assumes (unproven) that wage increases cause wider inflation. Socialists do not agree with that. We believe that wage increases instead bite into the surplus value exploited out of worker's labour. In fact, as known to the classical economist Ricardo about 200 years ago, there are some commodities which are inflated and some deflated by wage increases - the overall impact however is nil.<br />Right now there's a generalised deflation caused by overproduction but that will eventually pass. The labour struggle of the next five years/decade in the republic will come back to a central issue - wage restraint in inflationary times. That means one thing - lowered standards of living. <br />It's critical that socialists are clear that wage restraint will only lower the real incomes and standards of living of working class people. Pandering to big business demands for 'restraint' or even worse the 9% cuts targeted by the IMF (they forget the lack of restraint for bankers, shareholders, etc) will end up in accelerating the more negative aspects of globalisation. The race to the bottom.<br />Of course, getting out of that race requires a commitment to socialism. Do you expect such a thing from Caoimhghín?Socialism or Barbarism!http://www.revolutionaryireland.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727561618191456901.post-84439057525485221332009-07-07T23:50:47.797+01:002009-07-07T23:50:47.797+01:00Socialism or barbarism,
not sure of which comment...Socialism or barbarism,<br /><br />not sure of which comments you are referring to. However, as I made clear in my first post on here, I will not publish all comments. If I feel they add to the debate I will, if not I don't.<br /><br />Your post today gave an excellent link to your analysis of the situation, so i posted it.<br /><br />If you want to check out my ideas for this blog have a look ath my first post below.<br /><br />http://sinnfeinkeepleft.blogspot.com/2009/04/is-this-just-another-fecking-blog_11.htmlstarry ploughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01481013510515056679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727561618191456901.post-77530139565569224542009-07-07T23:41:33.088+01:002009-07-07T23:41:33.088+01:00Sinn Féin today issued a statement on the dispute ...Sinn Féin today issued a statement on the dispute and it is below. Good statement but our td's should have been on the picket lines with the workers, or at least expressed their support far sooner. If we are serious about our left wing policies then that is the least we should be expecting our leadership to be doing.<br /><br />http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/16917<br /><br />Employers must pay agreed rate before any new pay arrangements can be talked about – Ó Caoláin.July 7, 2009<br /><br />Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has called on the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) and the Association of Electrical Contractors Ireland to pay the increase in wages owed to electricians agreed in April 2008. Deputy Ó Caoláin said only when the terms of the existing agreement have been delivered can the employers body expect the workers representatives to negotiate new pay arrangements.<br /><br />Speaking today as electricians escalated their strike action Deputy Ó Caoláin said, “It is completely unrealistic of the employers groups to expect the electricians to accept a 10% pay cut when they themselves have refused to pay the increase in wages that was agreed last year.<br /><br />“How can the employers group expect the workers representatives to deliver in the future when they themselves have refused to live up to their commitments thus far?<br /><br />“Only when the terms of the existing agreement have been met can the employers’ body realistically expect the workers representatives to negotiate new pay arrangements that cater for the current economic situation.<br /><br />“We all recognise that we are living in a different economic reality than when this agreement was made. However, the employers groups would have been paid for the work done by the electricians and they have failed to honour the agreement to pay the increase to the workers. They must not be allowed to use the economic recession as an excuse to line their own pockets with previously earned money that rightly belongs in the pocket of the electricians.<br /><br />“The electricians have done what was asked of them and as such they should receive what is owing to them. There is now a need for dialogue and I would urge both sides to engage in negotiations to find an outcome that is acceptable for everyone.”starry ploughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01481013510515056679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727561618191456901.post-67402725695542354462009-07-07T13:13:18.146+01:002009-07-07T13:13:18.146+01:00Sorry that you felt the need to delete our earlier...Sorry that you felt the need to delete our earlier comments. <br />Here is a good article on this issue:<br />http://www.revolutionaryireland.com/2009/07/support-striking-engineers.htmlSocialism or Barbarismhttp://www.revolutionaryireland.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727561618191456901.post-2330415096619447252009-07-07T11:18:27.369+01:002009-07-07T11:18:27.369+01:00arthur morgan is the spokespserson on union issues...arthur morgan is the spokespserson on union issues i think. or most statements ive seen in the aprn or elsewhere came from him any way. <br /><br />bit poor allright. two memebrs of the cumman in my local area are electricians. say it's similiar around dublin. <br /><br />press office again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727561618191456901.post-67579901557390044132009-07-07T08:10:50.417+01:002009-07-07T08:10:50.417+01:00This is rediculous. Have you contacted 44 Parnell ...This is rediculous. Have you contacted 44 Parnell Sq to ask what is going on?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727561618191456901.post-12890911243438573402009-07-07T08:02:40.361+01:002009-07-07T08:02:40.361+01:00I watched Vincent Brown last night and saw Clare D...I watched Vincent Brown last night and saw Clare Daly of the Socialist party supporting the electricans and putting forward their case very well.starry ploughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01481013510515056679noreply@blogger.com