Unemployment Stand up and Fight

hep goes mee lopoent pees to a met seam da Ireland siece the 19S" a.

THAME. (i LEAS OFT OUT.

Te beth it's social and political effects anesploysent is a scourge of the vhole working class, Dochecked by the organlael trade unlen movement it can ooly Load to demoralisation,particularly among the poorly organised agctions af the working class,0m thia account aleor the trade ution leadership bears a heavy Tespens= ibility, Despite the andleas resolutions nothing bas bean done,eitber bo organisa the onemployed or to inktigte a campaign against unemplevitent.With acme notable axceptiona, ae the Low] Governeent. ani Public Serrice Unisn,little attampt has been made ac integrating unemployed metibe rs inte the unien stroctume.

There is ligtle doubt that the Coalitions record en onemplapment played a major part. in their defeat and the elocrion of Fianna Fall. Fianna Fail ta only toc avare of how explosive an issue it is,the main featur: of atts slection prepagatidsa was arcane precisely that issue, Tat their response to the predlen ef uiempdaymant since ther hare talon office shows that they will wo om cleser ta tockLing the prablan than tha Cealitien did, Thedr cody response is that of makeshift achenes jeg. GOA) exton school teachers, Jand a build up of the police force to deal with enemployed youth J Yet the p~lection of Fiarma Fail with. their correspamiing load ef peeetlaes dows create aH ateepher for placing demandsaon the Oorermnant and winning cancesuitds for the anetp lowed, The overriding need for a mational Might to Work! camaircn is mere pressing than ever, The Trish Tramepert and Ganaral Worker Union passed a rosolution at itts 197s ammual canference, calling for the lauaching ef a Aight te Werk qagpealen, var Lilie Lal LF other peaelutiona it yag'nt acted on, The ereundvork fer such s cwnpalen hag cart py pl haat igdelaced) fy Cha unos, The Lote rn ration af oremleved members and thetic representation on the branch ectecs Ls one vital atep witch could lay deep roots for auch a campaign, The trades councile can Flay 2 major role in mcordinsting conoon actbon at. a lecal and natitnal Laval, KEW LbITLar VES Fhe foragtion of the Dublin Pyht CseopLoyant Committee ig a coed example af how Lacel graupy of trades unioniaty ar uneoplore:

oun Play an inpertant part in laying the hagda for a oaticgsl campaign and rightbech.

This camittee of quetiplewsd trades urdordats began ta canpalen arc tas iesue of tree public travel far the anen— playec. They Legued “far fieht tine pe aliich were edven ta bos cendesters inatead of fares, The cetee prete ta canmoity spesclationg und toades uridans asking Loren tar sbpparc far tee campaign, The response wis bo seoeral pesitives 1 coop of CTE.

etlayeeg appetactset thy camdthae grad offareg their supparc.hany trade unien leaders includioe “Mizheal Mullen (Gen $e2 LT} hed alse andorsed the Ldea, Sete recently the Dublin Trades Council dezlared Eta support. Adee a eroup Of Cradeg wiion delerates and secial workers hive aprend ta represeot the demand for three fares * to the Dept, of Soclal Welfare, In Limerick a similar initiative is. bv‘ing pursued. The Unemplaped Workers Comittee and the Botton Mop {a bees) rank ancl file trade union newspaper) are demanding free vas andl elegtricite and bave received some backing fron warkers an the local vas works, Tiwy bare alse enlisted the suppart of lecturers und stadenta in the Notisgo.l Thstinute fer Algher Education to carey out 2 surrey on unenplorment and toh potential in the Jaree wacking clase ares Of Southill.

From tala Chey wl draw wp a phen To clear up the urea, pravide recreational racilities ani carey ub quch oeeded repairs, which ther will pur to Linarich terporation, Thay 1oLL aleo have « List of warkers prepared to da th Che job .0s tele wor the Limerice Cnetp loved Warkers uttee and Batren Toe hope to peevide ao ceoucrete fucus araund vhich to oargunise.

The: Lacitade for chia kied af york is aievit~as and other initiatives araund Leal peblie works pete, coo be iostrunmentel in orzanicing the unanmpleved Widle Decal campaigns aimed at improving the position or Che unetip loved! cagnet substitute [or « haticonal Right co Werk gaqpaden, hut Ther cab plar a vital role in Jaring the basis for auch a ocAtipaiecn.

The prohlen with previdas caltpaizna of inemulormesct, uch ay the Jatat Unetleyed Werkers Asseciatian = Titlin Trades Cea] canmpaien .was that they triad te mobilisa argund abetract demands.the Gablio Pigkt Crenplegtent Uoomittes and che Liseci ck Rotten as compaiena Aa opecoite this br Tilating to the perotlena web the ubetigloged faze 238 wupoployed. and bF making demamds tor tere “joka yery specific and concrete, [fF this faythod of work iy ubdertshen in other weas and coordinated on a netiomal scala, if eauld provide the kosia for the emersence af EB national, angeoinye Tight amingst anemploymant.