Otis lift strikers are on their third day of industrial action against their employer Otis who have chosen to impose compulsory redundancies rather than accept voluntary redundancies. Due to an injunction taken out on them at their picket in Dublin Airport TEEU members held a mass picket this morning 14th July at Otis Head office in Bluebell.

They had a hugely successful picket in Dublin Airport where Otis workers received support from other workers they had supported when they were on strike.

Trade Union TV had sought an interview with a spokesperson from Otis but no one was available to talk in Otis's Bluebell office. But according to their website: "At Otis, people are our most important asset....Otis offers a supportive environment where employees are encouraged to develop their skills and talents to their fullest potential."

Press Release – June 24th PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT TO HOLD PROTEST AT SECRET FIANNA FAIL ARD FHEIS IN DUBLIN TONIGHT.

The People Before Profit Alliance has called at short notice a protest at 7.00pm tonight (June 24th) at the Raddissson Hotel, Golden lane, off Aungier St, in Dublin’s city centre, where they understand Fianna Fail are due to hold a regional Ard Fheis. PBPA understand that, Taoiseach Brian Cowen, will be attending the Ard Fheis.

PBPA also understand that it was fear of protests that led Fianna Fail to hold regional Ard Fheiseanna, that are not publicly advertised, instead its usual national Ard Fheis. While PBPA have only gained knowledge of the Fianna Fail event in the last hour they are now making strenuous efforts to mobilise protests at short notice.

The PBPA demonstration will protest against the government’s economic policies of bailing out banks and protecting the super-wealthy in Irish society, while inflicting savage social cuts on ordinary people and failing to address the unemployment crisis.

Right To Work demonstration, Wednesday June 23rd , 6.30pm, Mansion House Dublin – Annual IBEC Dinner addressed by An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen

National Demonstration, Saturday June 26th, 1pm, Central Bank Plaza, Dublin – Stop the Bail-outs, Oppose EU/IMF cuts, End the Dictatorship of the Markets

Stop the Bank Bail Out – This Government Has Got to Go

Tuesday 18th May 7.30

Called by the Right to Work Campaign

The government has begun to embark on an extra €3 billion in cuts. Elderly people have been told that their state pensions are likely to be reduced and many home helps have already been withdrawn .

17,500 jobs are to be cut from the public sector and workers are being pressurised into accepting a terrible deal that would destroy conditions built up over decades.

The dominant motive of all state policy has become: Bail Out the Bankers.

In one day, €8 billion was given in a bail out for Anglo-Irish Banks.

More recently, the Irish government has signed up for another €7 billion bail-out for an EU fund in the wake of the Greek crisis. This money will not go to the Greek people but will be used to support global bankers who have sought to profit from their misery.

All of these bail outs will continue and worsen unless people protest,

Instead of 2,000 people coming out in pouring rain, we need tens of thousands on the streets so that the government gets the message.

Next Tuesday the Right to Work Campaign has called for a demonstration to the Dail at 7.30.

This will be a peaceful demonstration that will give everyone an opportunity to make their opposition to current policies known.

A new cycle of protest has begun and its aim is to tell this government to go. We want change – and the only way to get that change is to come out and make YOUR voice heard.

Right to Work Campaign. Tel 087 2604143 E Mail: Righttowork@live.com

Over a 1,000 people took to the streets yesterday (Tuesday, May 11th) for the Right To Work Campaign protest at Dail Eireann.

The recently established Right to Work Campaign, which is a broad coalition of community, civil society, trade unions, political groups and individuals called the demonstration to oppose the escalating bailout of Irish Banks and calling instead for the government’s priority to be focused on bailing out jobs, incomes and public services for ordinary workers and citizens. The protest was also officially sponsored by the trade union UNITE and was addressed by Fintan O’ Toole (Journalist), John Bisset (Canal Communities), John Kidd (SIPTU Firefighters), Siobhan Mc Guire (Community Workers Co-Op) & others.

“WE NEED A PEOPLE’S REBELLION”

At a press conference this morning organised by the Right to Work Campaign, the People Before Profit Alliance (PBPA) committed itself to mobilising across the country for a national demonstration that will take place at Dail Eireann on Tuesday May 11th at 7.30pm.

The press conference was attended by: Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett (People Before Profit Alliance), Aengus O Snodaigh TD (Sinn Fein), Joe Higgins TD (Socialist Party).

The recently established Right to Work Campaign, which is a broad coalition of community, civil society, trade unions, political groups and individuals has called the demonstration to oppose the escalating bailout of Irish Banks and calling instead for the government’s priority to be focused on bailing out jobs, incomes and public services for ordinary workers and citizens. The May 11th protest is also officially sponsored by the trade union UNITE. The May 11th protest will be addressed by Fintan O’ Toole (Journalist), John Bisset (Canal Communities), Walter Cullen (UNITE), John Kidd (SIPTU Firefighters), Siobhan Mc Guire (Community Workers Co-Op) & others.

In it’s statement the PBPA, called for a “people’s rebellion” against the current government and it’s policies, which it said were leading to a decimation of jobs, incomes and public services, while protecting the institutions and wealthy elites that were responsible for the crisis in the first place.

A new Trade Union Branch of the People before Profit Alliance has been set up in Belfast. Rank and File members from Unite, NIPSA, NASUWT and SIPTU came together to commit to building a People before Profit Alliance initiative in the Trade Union movement.

There was general agreement on the need for a political campaign against the upcoming public sector cuts which will see thousands of public sector jobs lost and the decimation of our frontline services.

To that end the Trade Union branch of the People before Profit Alliance will be arguing that the money is there to fund jobs and services in the Public Sector. That the proposed £700 million worth of cuts is unnecessary and that workers should not bear the brunt of cuts because of the billions wasted on bank bailouts or the Assembly's commitment to neo-liberalism. The branch agreed to circulate a leaflet at the union activist meeting hosted by ICTU on the 14th April.

Beyond that the branch moved a motion of support for Eamonn McCann's candidacy in the Foyle constituency of the Westminster Elections. The branch will be organising support for the campaign in upcoming weeks.

For details: 0044 79 497 497 81

Friday 2nd April saw the brutal murder of 15 year old Nigerian Toyosi Shittabey in Tyrellstown, Dublin. Toyosi and his friends were confronted by two racist thugs while on their way home from a sports centre. The racists left the scene but returned shortly afterwards armed with a knife and a hockey stick. They attacked one of a number of black boys. Toyosi went to his friend's aide and was brutally murdered. The racists left the scene.

Shortly afterwards the Gardai arrested and charged two white brothers. However the older man was charged with manslaughter and the other with possessing a dangerous weapon.

The fact that neither was charged with murder has caused outrage not just in the African community but also amongst all those who are disgusted by Toyosi's killing.

The response from the community in Tyrellstown has been fantastic. A number of vigils have been held in the area, attended by all sections of the community. This is the most appropriate answer to the racists who carried out this lynching.

Join peaceful March& rally this Saturday April 10.
Garden of remembrance(top of o’connell st) 2.00pm March to Dail.

To honour the memory of Toyosi Shitta-Bey, who tragically died last Friday, his family and friends are organising a march and rally to call on communities to unite against racism and violence this Saturday. Please spread the word and encourage friends, family and colleagues to come along.