Why Building Workers Will Lead the Congress Demonstration in Dublin

6 Nov 2009

Building workers are grateful to their fellow trade unionists for giving them the honour of leading the Congress protest in Dublin, the Secretary of the Congress Construction Committee Denis Farrell said today (Nov. 6).

Speaking ahead of the Congress National Day of Action - which will see demonstrations in eight centres around the country - Mr Farrell also announced that Construction Unions and employers have agreed a joint rescue package for the industry.

"Ireland will not start to recover from the effects of the current recession by cutting back on construction spending or by abandoning the infrastructural improvements element of the National Development Plan.

"The Construction Unions and the Construction Industry employers have agreed a joint rescue package for the industry. This package will not cost the taxpayer a penny. We intend to use workers' money currently in pension funds to provide the investment capital for much needed infrastructural development including the O'Devaney Gardens project and school and hospital projects which have been abandoned by Government, said Mr Farrell.

"The workers on these projects will be better employed than signing on for unemployment benefits. The Government will gain tax receipts and save social welfare payments. The plan also includes an integrated training module which will give unemployed apprentices the opportunity to finish their training.

"All the Government needs to do for us sort out our own problems is to assure Pension Fund Trustees many of whom are trade union members that investing in a construction rescue bond is a prudent and patriotic thing to do.

"So far the Government's invisible advisors in the Department of Finance have been choking off money already allocated to the Department of Education for much needed school projects. They apparently count this as a saving. They do not consider the thousands of former hard working and skilled workers being caste on the scrap heap as a cost.

"Our participation in today's protest is only the beginning. Until now the construction unemployed have been invisible. So have the saboteurs in the Dept of Finance. All of that is about to change. Unless they shake off their inertia they will soon be meeting with unemployed building workers who will tell them if they are incapable of helping, let them get out of the way and we will do it ourselves," Mr Farrell said.

Building Workers need a hand up not a hand out.

 

 

Further info

Denis Farrell, Secretary Construction Industry Committee

Irish Congress of Trade Unions: 08727893