Tuam Workers Not Fooled By Promises

THE Galway East bye-election Srought a new Fianna Fail TD, Goel Treacy, and a new promise frog Charles Haughey that the tuen Suger Factory would be Kept Gpen. The Tasiseach repeated Sean Lemass' rationale Sef gpening the Tuam factory * = Sie West of Ireland is @eelally deprived and needa gobs. i ai This was welcome news for Tuas i Morkers. But Haughey would Bever have given this commit-— Bent if he hadn't needed votes ad, Gore decisively, if the Sugar factory workers hedn't Organised to fight for their Jobs. the sugar factory closure was first posed by the Coalition govermment in. September 1964 @eainst noisy Fianna Fail Opposition. Fitzierald would Beree only to 4 one-year rePrieve and won the vote on PF's resolution for keeping the factory open indefinitely by only one vote -- that of Liserick East TD Jim Kemoy, (Then an independent, now the DSP"s sole TD), Although Fisnne Fall regained Power in February 1962, Tuan Workers had to wait until guly before they got a clear Coemitment that their jotes Would be saved, Im the long term, Tuan sugar Sectory workers can only be Guaranteed their jobs by orzaGising with other workers in ee a ee een eee sholilder the losees° from ‘naw on, Haughey ie being forced to menouevre, He sanctions Knock Airport, and retreats before the Talbot Car Factery workers, but meanwhile living stunderds are ereded and unem“ployment continues te rise, Workers are Josing patience with Fianna Fail, bot are not turing to the Coslition ag the altermative. perapective, for the Irish people. crisis, ea a i. while Labour and the ‘left! deputies offer no fighting Sacialists know the reason for the crisis and the way out of it. Hut there wes no anti-=imperialist cendidste taking the workera! side, The Galway East bye-election was a greet opportunity to point out: that it is futile ta rely on ‘the promises of Heughey and FitzGerald: Fianna Fail-and Fine Gael are committed to maintaining the profits of the multinational corporations and Irish ¢epitalisats, which can only mean lower living standard:

Noel Treacy could talk of Irish unity through negotiation while Gerry Tuite was being given ten years in prison. An anti-imperialist candidate would have exposed FF as the pro-= partitionist party it is and related ite collaboration with Britain ta the imperialiat daninetion of the Irish economy, Two lessons are clear from the Galway East byre-eleetion: 1} an anti-imperialist electoral bloe could make a positive impact on the balance of class forces. 2} Workers have both the ebility and willingness. to , fight back egsinst the effects of the economic and political Anti=ittperialiats can. take 3 decisive step forward by proViding a foous for these ofiers. Regular attendance by Section delegates at thir branch Meetings is essential fo prevent this, At Burling-tons thig was @ particuler aifficulty because most members lived in Limerick City while branch meetings took place in Ennis, 25 miles away. Branch meetings must be mace more accountable.

A final lesson is the need for unity among workers in Burlingtons four Irish plants, "ilthough we are now ahead, I believe that in the long run We Must have joint wage negotiationé and closer eo-operation all naund,"

JGE HARRINGTON

Campaign Against nay 10: The National Council for Civil Liberties Stewart, the 12 year old sotgole boy killed by a plastic bullet, SOCIALIST REPUBLIC AUGUST 719)