Draft Socialist Alliance Programme The Celtic Tiger was built by the efforts of Irish workers but the rewards have gone to a tiny elite. The gap between the super-rich and the working population has never been greater. Under the guise of social partnership, wages have been held down while profits soar. All the major parties urge people to accept this state of affairs. They warn that if we dare rock the boat and look for more, we will destroy the boom. But the Celtic Tiger will not last anyway. The growing signs of recession in the US will soon mean that the very bosses who claimed to be partners today will come after us for redundancies and sackings tomorrow. The Socialist Alliance will break this
cosy set up that has benefited the super-rich. We want to send TDs into
the Dail who will expose the games of the corrupt establishment and
give their full support to workers who take them on. It's elected representatives
will only take the average workers wages. We oppose any coalition or
informal deal with the crooked right wing parties of FF and FG. We stand
for the following policies. SHARE THE WEALTH - END WAGE RESTRAINT Profits, land prices, houses prices, rents have all mushroomed in the Celtic Tiger. But the only item that is controlled is wages. It is no wonder that this has produced huge inequality. We support the right of every worker to
submit claims for extra wages and not to be hemmed in by social partnership
deals. Social partnership is a fraud that promotes the myth that workers
and bosses have the same interests.
Politicians who have taken million in
bribes are walking about freely while people who have not paid a television
licence have been jailed. It is time to end a system where there is
one law for the rich and another for the poor.
The multi-nationals and the Irish rich pay the lowest tax on profits in Europe. The banks are making £1 million a day in profit but they pay a lower proportion of tax on their profits than their cleaners do on their wages. The Socialist Alliance wants: -
The building industry has never been so busy - but there is a huge accommodation crisis. There are 150,000 people on the housing list waiting for a local authority house. Many who could previously afford to buy a house cannot do so now. The Socialist Alliance stands for:
A two-tier health system has grown up in the Celtic Tiger. Those with the most money get the best and fastest treatment while the poor languish on long waiting lists. The Socialist Alliance stands for
Our primary schools are among the worst
funded in OECD countries. Working class children are severely under-represented
in the colleges and there are not enough places for mature students.
The quality of our environment is deteriorating.
On a global level the Irish government has done little to challenge
US government's sabotage of policies designed to control global warming.
At home, it has pushed a policy of incineration rather than proper waste
management based on re-cycling.
The Socialist alliance stands for an end to all forms of discrimination. Sections of the political establishment
are trying to stoke up racism to deflect attention from themselves.
They must be stopped. We are for the right to asylum and believe that
refugees should be made welcome and given the right to work.
We are for real equality for women. All
employers to give equal pay and equal opportunities for women.
Many voted for the Belfast Agreement in the hope that it would bring both peace and an end to sectarianism. In reality, it has institutionalised the existing sectarian divisions and is constantly supposed to be in crisis. It has established a right wing coalition government. The Socialist Alliance is opposed to any return to the armed struggle. There should be complete de-militarisation. The British army should be withdrawn and the RUC disarmed immediately. We stand for the development of class
politics in the North which unite Catholic and Protestant workers. Such
unity needs to be built on the firm foundation of opposing sectarian
structures. PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT: UNITE THE LEFT The Socialist Alliance is based on a coming
together of socialists from different parties and none. It is a recognition
that across the globe anti-capitalist ideas are growing since the great
Seattle protests and that a strong socialist force is needed in Ireland.
The alliance does not confine itself to elections but campaigns at grass
roots level for real change. By voting for the Socialist Alliance you
are indicating your support for all those fighting to get a real share
of the Celtic Tiger and to ensure that the needs people come before
profit. Draft Socialist Alliance Structures The Socialist Alliance is a broad network of likeminded socialists. It will contest elections on agreed policies and beyond that function as a network for co-ordinating socialist campaigning at a local level. 1. An interim co-ordinating committee should be elected at the first meeting. No party can have more than two delegates on this committee. 2. The Socialist Alliance is open to individual membership. Members make a financial contribution and join the local networks. 3. In the run up to elections, the Socialist Alliance will convene electoral conventions to choose its candidates democratically. 4. The Socialist Alliance will hold a conference at least once a year. All members of the alliance are entitled to attend and vote at the conference. |