Come Here To Me has, in the past, covered the Dublin Fire Brigade strike of 1988 on numerous occasions. Examples would include this copy of Class Struggle from the period, and scans from the magazine of the British Fire Brigade Union (FBU) during the dispute.
Here, we bring you the logo of the new IFESA (Irish Fire And Emergency Services Association) trade union. It is one of the first breaks with SIPTU to emerge out of what many in the union see as its failings to protect and represent its workers in recent times. I don’t doubt there will be more.
Mark Hillard of the Tribune wrote a piece on the new union recently, available here. SIPTU had, rather shamefully, attempted to purge union members who wished to establish a new option. That option is there now.
Best of luck to the IFESA.
Excerpt from letter of general secretary:
It is undoubtedly the case that we are currently operating in the most challenging environment ever for workers and their representatives. However, this too will pass. We must identify our ambitions and aspirations for our members and for the community on the basis of immediate, short term, medium term and long term objectives. We must commit to you, our members, that we will pursue your issues, your claims and your concerns as instructed by you; without fear or favour.
Click on the book for more.
Fair play to them for setting this up. How did they sort out gettig a negotiating licence?
Through the PNU Padraic, statement said:
“I am delighted to confirm that the members of the PNA have voted by a majority of 90% to extend full membership to our front line colleagues in the Fire Fighters and Ambulance Paramedic Services.”
What’s with the Iron Cross in the middle?
International firefighting imagery.
It is vital that working people organise to defend themselves and take the struggle to the capitalists as a mass, international, movement.
The reasons that SIPTU members are breaking away means they will not find the answer in another ready-made existing union (the PNA).
The question of accepting the need for a negotiating licence is central.
Working people the world over are struggling day in, day out to try and survive within this capitalist system.
The servants of the capitalists, of the super-rich – the government, and the Trade Union bureaucrats – say we must look for licences, must ‘negotiate’, must play according to the rules THEY lay down. According to what is designed to keep THEM in power.
But playing their game is leading us to defeat.
The PNA is not the answer. Working people must organise defence organisations that are completely independent of ANY of the old organisations tied into the system.
They must also build their own international political movement.
The question now for everyone the world over is power.
Either capitalism or socialism.
The Unions are dead. The fight is only just beginning.
http://www.tribune.ie/article/2010/oct/31/siptu-tries-to-pour-cold-water-on-breakaway-firefi/?q=Firefighters
The European strikes and the trade unions:
://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/mar2010/pers-m05.shtml