CPSU Strike:Placard power: members of union take part in pension levy protest
THE STREETS of Dublin were busy yesterday, but many people were carrying placards instead of shopping bags. Hundreds of CPSU members picketed outside State offices around the city from 7am onwards. While some public negativity was expected, the protesters said the reaction was mostly positive.
On Talbot Street, Ultan Macken and his colleagues were picketing outside the Department of Education’s National Council for Curriculum Assessment.
He said he had been working since 1966 and never remembered an 83 per cent majority in favour of a strike. “The kernel of it is that we are the lowest paid workers in the Civil Service. We are averaging €23,000 to €35,000. There are people in local authorities, cleaners and that, only earning €15,000.”
His colleague Morgan Lockhart has been working in the Civil Service more than 10 years. “And I’m still not on the average industrial wage. Quite frankly I can’t take the hit. I’d actually be better off signing on the dole if this comes through. I never thought I’d be standing here doing this, but it’s the inequity of it all that gets me.”
Farther down the street, Jemma Marinan and her colleagues were picketing outside the Department of Justice office at the Irish Life Mall. “Most of the public are supportive. There’s a few of them saying we should be happy we have our jobs and that but most of them support us.”
There was a large group on the picket line outside the Revenue Commissioners office on O’Connell Street. As Des Ryder was commenting on the good public reaction, a passing lorry driver beeped his horn in support. “It has been quite positive, I have to say. I think a lot of people are just saying ‘enough is enough’.”
He said the Government was not introducing a pension levy – it was a pay cut by another door and followed the income levy and the non-payment of the national wage agreement. “People are losing a day’s pay by being here and they haven’t done it lightly,” he said.
His colleague Deborah Durnin estimated that 99 per cent of public reaction to the picket was positive. “They are saying ‘thanks very much. Fair play to you. Keep up the good work’ and all that.”
Local shops were giving discounts on tea and lunch to show their support. Asked about the reaction of the negative 1 per cent, she said: “There was only one or two who got out the wrong side of the bed this morning. When we handed out the leaflets the impression they gave was that they weren’t very happy with us.”
By 9am yesterday, the Revenue picketers had distributed their stock of 1,000 leaflets. “You know the way you take the leaflets yourself and bin them? Well they weren’t binning them. They were reading them. It was great to see,” Ms Durnin said.
They were chanting “no way to low pay” as another group of Revenue staff picketed around the corner on Cathedral Street. Tracy McLoughlin had only received one negative comment from a passer-by. “We’ve had people coming over, shaking our hands, saying they are backing us up.”
Her colleague Jacob Elert said he was already struggling but the pension levy would push him beyond his limit. “I’m earning €400 a week and I am married. It will affect our spending. It will affect the quality of the food we are buying. It will affect our health because of that and it will reduce our efficiency at work.”
