ICTU Demonstration 21/02/09

Statement by John Carr, INTO General Secretary, on ICTU Demonstration

Saturday 21st February 2009
 
Government must come to the table
 
The General Secretary of the INTO said today’s demonstration by tens of thousands of workers was a vote of no confidence government’s handling of the economic crisis. John Carr said workers and their families have sent a clear message to government that social partnership must be re-convened.
 
He said workers strongly rejected the call that they alone should “put the shoulder to the wheel of national recovery” while the rich and privileged remain as spectators.
 
“Making ordinary workers pay, allows bailed out bank executives to keep huge proportions of obscene remuneration packages. It avoids having to reform the tax system, close loopholes and end tax dodges,” he said.
 
Mr Carr said the only way to avoid serious industrial unrest is to reconvene social partnership and produce a programme for national recovery that will have the support of all citizens.
 
Ends.