Dublin Opinion

Editorial: The march has begun

We are beginning to see a concerted workers response to the on-going attacks on our living standards. In the North the Con-Dem cutbacks have provoked strike action by public servants and delivered a clear mes- sage to Dave Cameron and his Tory boys that their agenda of increasing profits by striping communities of services will be opposed. In the south the establishment’s wage cutting onslaught is also summing up a reaction as anger turns into organised action.

The trade union movement is catching up with the feelings of its members. At its recent conference the ICTU committed to coordinating action by those who the system has attempted to condemn to a live time of slavery to the banks by forcing people into massive mortgage debt for daring to aspire to the basic human right of a family home.

Politically progressive forces are awakening, with a packed United Left Alliance forum in Liberty Hall during June pointing to the numbers seeking a new form of politics. While July saw the country’s major trade union leaders rally in defence of Sean Garland, with the leaders of SIPTU, UNITE and the TEEU all publicly speaking out in support of the veteran socialist who faces the threat of extradition after decades of progressive political struggle.

On the intellectual front encouragement must also be drawn from the positive reaction to Conor McCabe’s book Sins of the Father – the first de- tailed examination of the structural causes of southern economic collapse from a progressive perspective. This work helps activists understand how those in power have achieved their position and the damage they have done to Ireland’s social and economic progress.

LookLeft remains committed to assisting this building of a principled Left unity which must begin with an understanding of our shared radical traditions and joint progressive goals

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