Facts

is greatly aggravated by too high wages. Therefore, we are told, the real need be one source at least. But, in actual fact, the Government is not simply country are as follows : is for greater restraint on wage demands. Scares about an intended intending to raise these tariffs or give these subsidies. That's how serious Belgium tt, 10 days deflationary policy are being circulated. These scares certainly have a they are about fighting unemployment! Den ' a 10 days foundation, In fact, the Government is currently actually implementing a _ ‘ Britain es 7 days deflationary policy (i.e. one of creating mass unemployment). In the last issue of the Plough, we raised certain demands that workers y' Tssa : i faced with redundancies should carry out. These, we stress, are the only Germany - 13 days No longer finding it profitable to produce, the employers intend to real way in which unemployment can be fought. As for the Trade Union France - 10 days rationalise production, i.e, cut down on the number of workers employed. leadership; the latest call by John Carroll of the |.T.G.W.U, ‘’to provide Luxenburg as 10 days To explain further, statistics have been issued that reveal that there has been an emergency fund to tide industry over the present crisis”, is a step in the Nathavinnile me 8 days a real decline in consumer demand “The volume of retail sales has fallen by right direction. But the continuing participation of the Trade Union saa = ee something over 7.1% during June as compared with June of last year”. . . . movement in the Redundancy Appeals Tribunal, is a looming contradiction. | os d 8d ‘ “This fall sccords with the generally accepted view that there has been a This body wili be used more and more to legitimise the deliberately created shevedy * aye There is also a remarkable increase throughout all industries, in short-term working. “On October Sth last year, there were only 37 short-time workers on live or unemployed Register. This increased to 1,484 on September 27th to 2,459 to 2,459 on October 4th 1974". (Irish Times October 16th).

GOVERNMENT POLICY In view of this serious situation, what we may ask is the attitude of the Government and the employers? Firstly, we have been bombarded with claims that the crisis in the economy which has created so much unemployment This reduction in demand in turn aggravates the problems in the rest of industry, and so the crisis deepens.

The Confederation of trish Industry has already complained; “the Confederation blames the current liquidity problems facing industry on the squeezing of profit margins as a result of low demand”. (irish Times 18th :

IF THE PROMISES ARE REAL.....

The great promises we have been treated to about maintaining employment are just a load of old hogwash, a cover-up. Irish promises are a total contradiction to the actual practice of the present In the article below the Trade Union caucus of the Revolutionary Marxist Group examines the nature of the crisis affecting Irish capitalism. The main point* stressed is that this crisis stem s from a falling rate of profit. Government. Clearly there are tertain alternatives oper to*them, to relieve the current situation. Firstly, they could re-introduce tariffs on all imported goods, Within the E.E.C. national interests have been sacrificed for the sake of so called European unity. Any resort to such arguments are flatly contradicted by what has actually been happening within the E.E.C, Secondly, since it took office, the Government could have also introduced subsidies for industries to make them economically viable.

One might ask, just where is all this money going to come from? A source of finance exists in the £428 million external reserves, that the Free State has built up through credit during two World Wars. This would Trade Unionists accept the concept of being redundant workers. The crisis is not of our own making, therefore we should not accept any responsibility for it We must continue to fight, to take the example of the Danus workers, and refuse to become redundant.

REDUNDANCY APPEALS TRIBUNAL NOW!

SHARE.ALL WORK WITH NO LOSS OF PAY!

OCCUPY, AGAINST THREATENED CLOSURES!

NATIONALISE ALL INDUSTRIES!

aa in tax each week.

MINIMUM WAGE BEHIND THE i EMPLOYMENT AND FOREIGN INDUSTRY Successive Governments have boasted of their feats in creating employment by attracting foreign industry. In fact, between 1960 and 1973, 64,600 new jobs were provided by foreign firms, However, a report of the Organisation of Economic Co-Operation and Development, on manpower policy in Ireland (published at the end of q October) says that these jobs are not likely to be permanent. “The O.E.C.D. Committee of Experts”, the Report says, “believe that since many foreign firms may have invested because of the incentive grants, and second because their decision making centres will remain abroad, their permanent job creating ability can be doubted”.

OFFICIAL NON-WORKING DAYS According to the Official Journal of the European Communities, Ireland has one of the lowest number of public holidays in the E.£.C. The numbers for each ireland is noted for having one of the highest rates of taxation in Europe. The following statistics show why. Taxation per head of population is £278, This means that on average everybody in the country pays out £5.35p In a period of rapid inflation it is essential that the least organised workers be protected by Statutory Minimum Wage Legislation. At the moment in Ireland there are very few safeguards in this area. Only workers who come under the Joint Labour Committees or the Agricultural Wage Board have any protection — inadequat workers or 16% of employees. Seay a SS WORKERS AND EDUCATION The “Educational Opportunity in Dublin” report that 40% of the population of Dublin had no formal certificate of education. The report clearly showed up the class nature of education. For example, 86% of the adult population of Ballyfermot, and 73% of the adult population of Dolphin’s Barn, had a national school education only; the corresponding figures for Dun Laoghaire and Blackrock were 45% and 31% respectively.