Water Rates Campaign

Links several simailer awlaoreesus ateus under oa. greater Dublin wuthovity, These plans, tinkesd in witty. the imposition oof lacul chataes such as wuber hares ath. wtimatel’, charges fac other setvices such os bur cobllecthon, swede scribes ete This micas m eclbeci that workers who alecady jew the saed-bolk oof taxation thiough PAYE and WAT yeill hove io pun bwice ower tor inereasinely seconieraie services. These plans will alee facilitate te demands of private entetprise toy further cutbacks in public spending si tial the tax dadging business comms nity cin avin of moore hondeats fram workers’ taxes in granis, payroll subsidies cre. They alee wish lo see large sectkens al Lhe public secier privatised ancl hasded over dor persica peafit (4 the very people who caused the present economic mess and hare threvan 250.00 onto che dake.

### FIGHTING BACK

The people bese paced to defend public serdors are the - trade unions, Betas on the puy issue Weak the ably of the wolons to Tight on issues such os health, education cand Jocal aurheriny screbces which attect ths standard oft living ob cvtry wacker ao the couotey, Matty thrisands of werkers live sill ta sere their pax claims. Workers in Bord Telecom, Ag Post, CIE, ancl 10.000 craft workers acc clerical Staff in the local puthevities are all atl boochish with the powered an poy and are also fachig reer: Eanisationg — cutbucks — and Pivatisation. Real coordination ob these straggles can by linking up wilh community camoaiens Such us the water tax campaign begin the process of buikding Uny GINS! poeronent- cuthacks. The immediate task for tives. diatoly. The campaign ageinsi waier rates io Dublio in moving Inin 2 new phase. In the two weeks before Chrisinas 900K = threadening letters were seat oul by Dublin Corporation's legal represeniaIn these letters bouselwders were threatened with court action filus substantial legal costs. Jn February fing] warnings ‘were sent out to the effect that nen Payment of rates was tara ont of the Corporation's hands and legal Praccedings would: begin immeThis action is a massive bhetf by Dublin Corporation, of more relevonthy, by the. Coalition who are the neal culprits behind these attacks, lufonmation on the charges. number of households whe have Paid is nel available but it is clear that the east majority have not paid. The threat of legal actlan: is an attempt to boost thie suniber of Parmecots up to Sh to moke a harder line more feasible, A slight increase in payment orcurred initially by peape who were frightened by these threats, parhewarly by elderky people, many who subsequently found they were enempt anyway, The increased payments have not fiewever substantially altered the figures, The threat of substantial legal costs is also a bluff. as legal costs would be related te the size ef debts owed, In most cases ESQ is owed so far, In the- event of Further proceedings tenants aod ' residents would not hove much difficulty covering costs.

### TRADE UNIONS

SUPPORT CAMPAIGN While the trade anion movemedt has widely condemned the inireduction of water charges, prmctical support te the campaign has been almost mon-exisreer. There have been seme exceptions, the plumbers and fitters unions have refused to allow thelf members to be involved in the turning off of water. for non-payment of charges. On the other hand, a serious blow to the campalon was effected by the decisien of the UGPSU to adiminister the clerical work involved in aperating the scheme — sending out the demunmd und collecting the The decision te carry oul these functions was agreed by the LOPSU on the basis that regrading claima which the LOPS were having with dhe Corperntion, and which were unrelated te the extra’ wotk involyed in adliminkstering the water rates would be aereed.

Activists within the water totes campaign shoud fight to have this disaracefu) decision revers-' ed. lt should be raised within tenants and residents onganisatloas aod within the trade wien to force the ITO WT to take a pasifon of wetive rather than wocal support, Pressure throogh the trode unions shook’ also be exerted on Labour Panty TDs and councilors who pretend to scmme| sort of allegiance to the trade uolons and workers movement. ~