Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Unite regional secretary Jimmy Kelly Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland
Referendum

Trade unions join forces in calling for No vote on Fiscal Compact

Three of the country’s major trade unions have reiterated their call for a No vote in the upcoming Fiscal Compact referendum.

THREE OF THE country’s major trade unions have reiterated their call for a No vote in the upcoming Fiscal Compact referendum.

Unite, Mandate and the Civil Public and Service Unions (CPSU), which have a combined membership of about 100,000, have joined forces to issue an appeal to the public to vote No when they go to the ballots on Thursday.

Unite regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said that the Treaty was “only about austerity” and did not have any provisions relating to growth. He also claimed attempts were being made to ‘rush’ it in: “The problem with the treaty is that it enshrines the very policies that have caused that recession to get deeper and more damaging,” Kelly said.

Mandate General Secretary John Douglas claimed that, if passed, the Treaty would not create a single job, adding:

This Treaty has nothing to do with ‘good housekeeping’ or ‘managing the household budget’; it is about copper fastening into an internationally legally binding agreement, decades of austerity, social exclusion, mass long term unemployment and emigration – and a continuation of attacks on workers’ rights and the welfare system. It is not about what is good for Irish citizens, or the citizens of Europe.

Similarly, CPSU General Secretary Eoin Ronayne said that the ordinary citizens of the EU needed “a sustained and comprehensive growth package putting money back into their pockets so that they can spend in their local economies generating jobs and protecting existing employment”. He said the Treaty would not offer that to the people.

Read: Pro-Treaty parties: Adams ‘misleading’ public on access to ESM funds

Read: Support for Yes side falls in one of three new referendum polls

Your Voice
Readers Comments
50
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.