Limerick

Some 70 people turned out to discuss what to do about unemployment in Limerick’s Connolly Hall on March 23. Organised by the Limerick Fightback Group most of them were unemployed workers with a good attendance by shop stewards, branch and trades council delegates.

Des Bonass of the ATGWU and Dublin Trades Council spoke of the need for a militant fight to defend existing jobs and referring to the recent success of the Clondalkin workers, called for support for sit-ins, occupations ‘and any other action we deem necessary’. He concluded by calling on the Labour Party to withdraw from Coalition and warned that if this was not done ‘a trade union political group will be set up to lead the working class fightback”’’

Another speaker was Peggy Hanbury, President of the Limerick Council of Trade Unions who called for the setting Up Of a centre for the jobless. Pointing out that trades councils have already set up such centres elsewhere she went on to hope that Limerick would see one in the near future. ‘7he centre could be used to offer advice and guidance to the jobless in terms of their entitlements. /t could also be a meeting place where the unemployed could devise various policies in relation to their social and economic needs’.

From the Finglas Unemployed Action Group, Eddie Conlon reported on the plans for the Peoples March For Jobs in April. It is hoped that a Limerick banner will be carried on this march. Support is growing among workers in the media for the recently launched ‘Campaign 5 basic demands 1. Repeal Section 3/ of the

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starts to organise