People Before Profit Public Meeting

cork | anti-capitalism | event notice Wednesday October 08, 2008 21:15 by modonoghue - People Before Profit

Banking Crisis, Recession, Rocketing Prices, Rising Unemployment. What is the Solution?

In response to the recent economic and banking crisis Cork People before Profit Alliance is calling a public meeting in the Victoria Hotel on Thursday 9th October at 8pm.

The People before Profit Alliance condemn the recent government bail-out of Irish banks as a shocking example of corporate welfare for the super rich and claim the government’s actions stand in stark contrast to its failure to bail-out our crumbling health service or address escalating levels of unemployment.

People before Profit Alliance spokesperson Richard Boyd Barrett said “People who rely on public services have been told that there is no money to prevent severe cuts. Young people who work for the government and have huge mortgages will suffer because their employer says it cannot pay them any wage increase for the next 11 months, as ‘there is no money’ in the coffers. Yet at the stroke of a pen, the Irish taxpayer has been exposed to a huge risk of the order of €400-€500 billion to save banks.”

Speakers at the public meeting include Richard Boy Barrett, People before Profit Alliance and Chairperson of the Irish Anti War, Seamus Healy, Former TD / Clonmel Workers and Unemployed Action Group, Cllr Joan Collins Independent Socialist Councillor, Derry Chambers, Cork Environmental Alliance.

Speaking in advance of the meeting Mala ODonoghue of the People Before Profit Alliance in Cork said “People all over Cork are seeing prices rocket as major supermarket chains attempt to keep prices up. We have seen Gas and Electricity cost increase by more than 20 %. To add insult to injury the government and some of our union leaders think we should take a pay cut while some politicians have just awarded themselves a pay rise. It seems that the more vulnerable in society are expected to pay the high price of the recession. With the budget approaching all the indications are that there will be severe cutbacks in our already under funded public services. People in Cork are also rightly concerned about government decisions in relation to our environment, in particular the situation in Cork harbour”

“We are calling this public meeting to allow people to have their say and to discuss how we can build a real alternative that will put people before profit. I would encourage people from across the city to come out and find out more”.