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(E) Water Charges Victory
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 13:56:28 0000
>From: Dr Groove <dr_groove-AT-geocities.com>
Organization: Workers Solidarity Movement
A HTML version of this report can be found at
www.geocities.com/Athens/2724/an13.html
Water Charges Victory
[WSM Dublin, Ireland, Jan 13]
On the 19th of December 1996 the minister for the environment made a low
key announcement that he had abolished water and sewage charges throughout
the country. =
This was a historic victory for the groups and campaigns which have been
fighting for years through out the country on this issue. It was
especially so for the campaign in Dublin. Here the Dublin Federation of
Anti-Water Charges Campaigns has fought tooth and nail against the charges
since their introduction about 3 years ago. After a mass campaign of
non-payment and popular protest we have won.
It is important to realise just exactly how this came about. =
This campaign now stands at about 17,000 members (all of whom have paid
=A32 each to join). The rate of non-payment has been massive with over
50˘n Dublin South and Fingal, Courts have ground to a halt as hundreds
of non-payers turned up to fight charges against them.
The strength of the Federation lay in those who organised meetings,
delivered leaflets, raised funds, organised pickets and demonstrations.
The victory belongs to ordinary heroes and heroines, to householders,
workers and pensioners like Jimmy Campbell and Larry Doran.
How we won
This campaign has succeeded because it has been committed to the idea of
people organising on their own behalf. It was built without any media
attention and in a time of deafening silence by the politicians (while
their constituents were dragged before the courts.) The campaign has
always been open and democratic, giving full say to all the activists
involved and, where strong enough, building well organised local groups.
Anarchists argued throughout for self reliance, encouraging the campaign
to place no trust in judges and politicians and indeed to hound and press
the latter at every opportunity. The two key decisions made by the
Federation were, firstly, the idea of the =A32 membership. This meant
that we had to go house to house to build the campaign. This is by far the
best way to discuss issues and win people over if you have the time and
numbers to do it. The second was to emphasise the importance of local
groups meeting, drawing up their own leaflets, visiting their councillors
doing their own fund raisers and so on.
We cannot deny that Joe Higgins coming within a hair's breadth of a seat
in Dublin West did put the frighteners on the politicians. However what
really scared them was the sight of 10,000s of thousands of people
standing shoulder to shoulder and refusing to pay. What we now need is to
continue this pressure for a full amnesty for the courageous non-payers.
Power in a Union?
The anti service charges campaign included thousands of worker's in
Dublin, so what about their unions? If we can win in the communities why
not make gains in the work place? What happens when you concede the cards
to 'leaders' instead of relying on your own efforts becomes clear when
you look at the lamentable state of the unions in this country. Right now
they are pushing yet another deal with the bosses and government the
'Partnership 2000' agreement.
The last nine years of 'partnership' have been ones of massive
unemployment and no net wage growth some deal=8A=8A=8A for the bosses!
The new deal, excluding tax changes which the government promised before
anyway, amounts to 7.4¨ver 39 months. Inflation is now running at 1.9ŕD
which is 6.2¨ver this time period. This means a net wage increase of
1.2¨ver inflation for the 39 months or a lousy 0.4©er year! Meantime
the government has pushed through the Industrial Relations Act massively
limiting workers 'ability to organise. In 1995, for example, the courts
awarded =A31.3 million against SIPTU for holding an official strike at
Nolan's Transport in Wexford.
Fight back
Meantime union membership (as a percentage of those in work) declined by
11›etween 1987 and 1993. Those who remain feel demoralised and shop
floor organisation has collapsed in many jobs. Members see little point
in being involved when all the deals are done over their heads with their
only function being to "OK" the new deal every three years. In the
context of a booming economy, when one would expect the workers to be
pushing for more of the cake, militancy has stagnated.
Of course this latest stitch up should be given the boot but that's not
all. Just as we created a successful and democratic water charges
campaign we must now try to do the same on the industrial front. A first
step would be a basic set of demands. These should include a much shorter
paid working week, a national minimum wage of =A36.50 per hour,
recruitment of young workers and a fight to save every job. We have to
take control of our unions, push them as far as they can go and then push
further for full control over how things are produced and over our own
lives.
****
Amnesty for non-payers demonstration
Four Courts
Jan 27, 10:00
*****
Now Change the World!
The defeat of the water charges proves the power ordinary people have when
we organise together. It proves there is an alternative to the present
system where a tiny wealthy minority order us around. This alternative is
anarchism!
Anarchism is the idea that the mass of people, the working class, can
change the world for the better replacing the exploitation, inequality and
injustice that are all around today with a new world based on socialism
and freedom.
Anarchism is the idea of a world where there are no classes - the rich
having been sent packing. Where society is run and controlled through
councils by those who produce the wealth in society, the working class.
Where there is absolute freedom of ideas, of movement and of the
individual. Anarchism is a society built on the abolition of all tyranny,
in society and in the workplace. In the everyday class struggle its aim
is to build as much working class unity as possible. It argues for
workers to strengthen their organisations and their capacity to take
control from the bosses. This starts with taking control of our unions
and community organisations at local level. The inequality and
authoritarianism of capitalism is neither acceptable nor necessary.
Workers and the poor are constantly being asked to make sacrifices and to
tighten their belts for the 'good of the country'. The things we most
depend on like housing, health care and education are the very things that
are being 'cutback' by the Government while all the time the huge wealth
and profit of private industry remains relatively untouched by taxes. We
are no strangers to this in Ireland. Anarchists argue that this doesn't
happen because we have 'bad' politicians but because it is the way that
capitalism works. In a society where a small rich class controls things,
it is inevitable that they will exploit and make the poor pay for as much
as possible.
Anarchism is a practical way to bring about a society of socialism and
freedom. The traditional 'way', in countries like ours, is through the
ballot box. It is here that we are told that changes can be brought about
if we want to make them. Anarchists don't agree with this and oppose
involvement in the parliament for two reasons. Firstly, real power in
society doesn't reside there. It is mainly a talking shop. Even if you
did get a socialist party elected to Government that stood for the
abolition of capitalism (instead of the normal situation where they stand
for simply an increase in dole payments or a cut of two pence in the tax
rate) they wouldn't be allowed to do it.
In Chile in 1973 when the elected Allende Government proposed minor land
reforms it was drowned in blood after the Army moved in to "save Chile
from socialism". More recently the army in Haiti rejected the election of
the reformer President Aristide and imposed a reign of terror. As long as
parliament confines itself to minuscule or meaningless change it will be
allowed to function. But to challenge the basis of capitalism - wage
labour and private property - is just not on.
But there is also another reason why socialism can't be brought about by
electing a socialist government. Anarchists argue that socialism is about
the working class running society through workplace and community councils
- in other words democracy in all parts of human activity. It is through
this that a real equal distribution of wealth can take place. But most
socialist parties don't believe in this idea at all. Rather they see
socialism as something else. For them it is the idea of their Party which
'represents' the workers interests taking control of the State and 'making
it work for the people'. Thus they put a lot of energy into promoting
individual personalities as 'good politicians' who will sort out your
problems unlike the 'bad politicians' currently in power.
Anarchists say that no one can actually 'represent' workers interests but
workers themselves. Anarchists argue that only all those who suffer
inequality and injustice can and will at the end of the day see the fight
to end it through to the finish. Governments of socialists on the other
hand soon get bogged down "in the national interest" and other compromises
once in power. Far from changing anything, things can often get worse
for many workers. Anarchists argue that the means used to build socialism
and ends achieved are connected. Thus a Party which achieves power
believing itself to represent the working class cannot but end up creating
a rigid hierarchical society all over again.
Finally then, anarchism is the idea of a free socialist society and how it
can be achieved by the direct action and strength of the working class.
Anarchists stand uncompromisingly for a new world. It will be organised
from the bottom up and production will be to meet peoples' needs, not for
the private profit of a few. Every individual will enjoy complete control
of her/his life with no limition their freedom as long as they do not
encroach on the freedom of anyone else. That is what the Workers
Solidarity Movement is fighting for. We want you to join with us in this
fight.
Anarchist News No 13 Jan. 1997
-- <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
The Bolsheviks and Workers Control is now on the web at
www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/2163/bolintro.html
Anarchist papers and magazines at
www.geocities.com/Athens/2724/anpubdx.html
Want to join a class struggle anarchist mailing list
email me at dr_groove-AT-geocities.com for details
TO SEND A MESSAGE TO EVERYONE write to RA-L-AT-bred.univ-montp3.fr.
TO UNSUBSCRIBE, WRITE TO : listserv-AT-bred.univ-montp3.fr
with the text SIGnoff RA-L (no subject nor signature).
Moderator/Moderador/Moderateur : Ronald Creagh
Co-Moderator : John P. Clark
e-mail : rcreagh-AT-alor.univ-montp3.fr
snail mail/correo ordinario/courrier ordinaire : Ronald Creagh, Universite
Paul Valery, B.P. 5043, 34032, Montpellier-Cedex, France.
fax : (33) 67 64 77 23
>From: Dr Groove <dr_groove-AT-geocities.com>
Organization: Workers Solidarity Movement
A HTML version of this report can be found at
www.geocities.com/Athens/2724/an13.html
Water Charges Victory
[WSM Dublin, Ireland, Jan 13]
On the 19th of December 1996 the minister for the environment made a low
key announcement that he had abolished water and sewage charges throughout
the country. =
This was a historic victory for the groups and campaigns which have been
fighting for years through out the country on this issue. It was
especially so for the campaign in Dublin. Here the Dublin Federation of
Anti-Water Charges Campaigns has fought tooth and nail against the charges
since their introduction about 3 years ago. After a mass campaign of
non-payment and popular protest we have won.
It is important to realise just exactly how this came about. =
This campaign now stands at about 17,000 members (all of whom have paid
=A32 each to join). The rate of non-payment has been massive with over
50˘n Dublin South and Fingal, Courts have ground to a halt as hundreds
of non-payers turned up to fight charges against them.
The strength of the Federation lay in those who organised meetings,
delivered leaflets, raised funds, organised pickets and demonstrations.
The victory belongs to ordinary heroes and heroines, to householders,
workers and pensioners like Jimmy Campbell and Larry Doran.
How we won
This campaign has succeeded because it has been committed to the idea of
people organising on their own behalf. It was built without any media
attention and in a time of deafening silence by the politicians (while
their constituents were dragged before the courts.) The campaign has
always been open and democratic, giving full say to all the activists
involved and, where strong enough, building well organised local groups.
Anarchists argued throughout for self reliance, encouraging the campaign
to place no trust in judges and politicians and indeed to hound and press
the latter at every opportunity. The two key decisions made by the
Federation were, firstly, the idea of the =A32 membership. This meant
that we had to go house to house to build the campaign. This is by far the
best way to discuss issues and win people over if you have the time and
numbers to do it. The second was to emphasise the importance of local
groups meeting, drawing up their own leaflets, visiting their councillors
doing their own fund raisers and so on.
We cannot deny that Joe Higgins coming within a hair's breadth of a seat
in Dublin West did put the frighteners on the politicians. However what
really scared them was the sight of 10,000s of thousands of people
standing shoulder to shoulder and refusing to pay. What we now need is to
continue this pressure for a full amnesty for the courageous non-payers.
Power in a Union?
The anti service charges campaign included thousands of worker's in
Dublin, so what about their unions? If we can win in the communities why
not make gains in the work place? What happens when you concede the cards
to 'leaders' instead of relying on your own efforts becomes clear when
you look at the lamentable state of the unions in this country. Right now
they are pushing yet another deal with the bosses and government the
'Partnership 2000' agreement.
The last nine years of 'partnership' have been ones of massive
unemployment and no net wage growth some deal=8A=8A=8A for the bosses!
The new deal, excluding tax changes which the government promised before
anyway, amounts to 7.4¨ver 39 months. Inflation is now running at 1.9ŕD
which is 6.2¨ver this time period. This means a net wage increase of
1.2¨ver inflation for the 39 months or a lousy 0.4©er year! Meantime
the government has pushed through the Industrial Relations Act massively
limiting workers 'ability to organise. In 1995, for example, the courts
awarded =A31.3 million against SIPTU for holding an official strike at
Nolan's Transport in Wexford.
Fight back
Meantime union membership (as a percentage of those in work) declined by
11›etween 1987 and 1993. Those who remain feel demoralised and shop
floor organisation has collapsed in many jobs. Members see little point
in being involved when all the deals are done over their heads with their
only function being to "OK" the new deal every three years. In the
context of a booming economy, when one would expect the workers to be
pushing for more of the cake, militancy has stagnated.
Of course this latest stitch up should be given the boot but that's not
all. Just as we created a successful and democratic water charges
campaign we must now try to do the same on the industrial front. A first
step would be a basic set of demands. These should include a much shorter
paid working week, a national minimum wage of =A36.50 per hour,
recruitment of young workers and a fight to save every job. We have to
take control of our unions, push them as far as they can go and then push
further for full control over how things are produced and over our own
lives.
****
Amnesty for non-payers demonstration
Four Courts
Jan 27, 10:00
*****
Now Change the World!
The defeat of the water charges proves the power ordinary people have when
we organise together. It proves there is an alternative to the present
system where a tiny wealthy minority order us around. This alternative is
anarchism!
Anarchism is the idea that the mass of people, the working class, can
change the world for the better replacing the exploitation, inequality and
injustice that are all around today with a new world based on socialism
and freedom.
Anarchism is the idea of a world where there are no classes - the rich
having been sent packing. Where society is run and controlled through
councils by those who produce the wealth in society, the working class.
Where there is absolute freedom of ideas, of movement and of the
individual. Anarchism is a society built on the abolition of all tyranny,
in society and in the workplace. In the everyday class struggle its aim
is to build as much working class unity as possible. It argues for
workers to strengthen their organisations and their capacity to take
control from the bosses. This starts with taking control of our unions
and community organisations at local level. The inequality and
authoritarianism of capitalism is neither acceptable nor necessary.
Workers and the poor are constantly being asked to make sacrifices and to
tighten their belts for the 'good of the country'. The things we most
depend on like housing, health care and education are the very things that
are being 'cutback' by the Government while all the time the huge wealth
and profit of private industry remains relatively untouched by taxes. We
are no strangers to this in Ireland. Anarchists argue that this doesn't
happen because we have 'bad' politicians but because it is the way that
capitalism works. In a society where a small rich class controls things,
it is inevitable that they will exploit and make the poor pay for as much
as possible.
Anarchism is a practical way to bring about a society of socialism and
freedom. The traditional 'way', in countries like ours, is through the
ballot box. It is here that we are told that changes can be brought about
if we want to make them. Anarchists don't agree with this and oppose
involvement in the parliament for two reasons. Firstly, real power in
society doesn't reside there. It is mainly a talking shop. Even if you
did get a socialist party elected to Government that stood for the
abolition of capitalism (instead of the normal situation where they stand
for simply an increase in dole payments or a cut of two pence in the tax
rate) they wouldn't be allowed to do it.
In Chile in 1973 when the elected Allende Government proposed minor land
reforms it was drowned in blood after the Army moved in to "save Chile
from socialism". More recently the army in Haiti rejected the election of
the reformer President Aristide and imposed a reign of terror. As long as
parliament confines itself to minuscule or meaningless change it will be
allowed to function. But to challenge the basis of capitalism - wage
labour and private property - is just not on.
But there is also another reason why socialism can't be brought about by
electing a socialist government. Anarchists argue that socialism is about
the working class running society through workplace and community councils
- in other words democracy in all parts of human activity. It is through
this that a real equal distribution of wealth can take place. But most
socialist parties don't believe in this idea at all. Rather they see
socialism as something else. For them it is the idea of their Party which
'represents' the workers interests taking control of the State and 'making
it work for the people'. Thus they put a lot of energy into promoting
individual personalities as 'good politicians' who will sort out your
problems unlike the 'bad politicians' currently in power.
Anarchists say that no one can actually 'represent' workers interests but
workers themselves. Anarchists argue that only all those who suffer
inequality and injustice can and will at the end of the day see the fight
to end it through to the finish. Governments of socialists on the other
hand soon get bogged down "in the national interest" and other compromises
once in power. Far from changing anything, things can often get worse
for many workers. Anarchists argue that the means used to build socialism
and ends achieved are connected. Thus a Party which achieves power
believing itself to represent the working class cannot but end up creating
a rigid hierarchical society all over again.
Finally then, anarchism is the idea of a free socialist society and how it
can be achieved by the direct action and strength of the working class.
Anarchists stand uncompromisingly for a new world. It will be organised
from the bottom up and production will be to meet peoples' needs, not for
the private profit of a few. Every individual will enjoy complete control
of her/his life with no limition their freedom as long as they do not
encroach on the freedom of anyone else. That is what the Workers
Solidarity Movement is fighting for. We want you to join with us in this
fight.
Anarchist News No 13 Jan. 1997
-- <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
The Bolsheviks and Workers Control is now on the web at
www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/2163/bolintro.html
Anarchist papers and magazines at
www.geocities.com/Athens/2724/anpubdx.html
Want to join a class struggle anarchist mailing list
email me at dr_groove-AT-geocities.com for details
TO SEND A MESSAGE TO EVERYONE write to RA-L-AT-bred.univ-montp3.fr.
TO UNSUBSCRIBE, WRITE TO : listserv-AT-bred.univ-montp3.fr
with the text SIGnoff RA-L (no subject nor signature).
Moderator/Moderador/Moderateur : Ronald Creagh
Co-Moderator : John P. Clark
e-mail : rcreagh-AT-alor.univ-montp3.fr
snail mail/correo ordinario/courrier ordinaire : Ronald Creagh, Universite
Paul Valery, B.P. 5043, 34032, Montpellier-Cedex, France.
fax : (33) 67 64 77 23
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