SIPTU Debate on Lisbon, Liberty Hall,
Dublin, 25th September 6pm.
Jack O' Connor President of
SIPTU
versus
Kieran Allen, President of SIPTU' s Education Branch.
The leadership of the largest union in
the country, SIPTU, has come out in favour of a Yes vote in Lisbon - but
many of its grassroots members disagree. Rread More.
The SIPTU President Jack O'Connor will
debate the issue with Kieran Allen, the President of the Education Branch and
editor of Voteno.ie. The debate will take place on Friday 25th of September at
6pm in Liberty Hall in front of an audience of SIPTU activists and other
concerned individuals.
During the first referendum the SIPTU
leaders took a neutral stance in protest at the failure of the government to
pass laws which guaranteed
the rights of workers to collective
bargaining. Despite the fact that there has been no change in this stance,
they have reversed their stance in a light of a Labour Party pledge to introduce
such laws when in government.
Kieran Allen has publicly disagreed with
this reversal. 'The union leaders did not consult their members on Lisbon - even
though they had plenty of opportunity to do so. The reality is that the
Lisbon Treaty :
- Enshrines neo-liberal dogmas in the
constitution of a new Europe.
- Promotes increased military spending
which is detrimental to society.
- Does nothing to reverse the attacks on
workers rights which the EuropeanCourt of Justice has implemented.
Despite the recommendation of the union
leaders, the majority of the SIPTU grassroots will oppose the
Treaty
