Workers’ Party Northern Region

One of the measures taken in the recent budget has been to decrease the VAT rate in the hospitality sector from 13.5% to 9% ; a repetition of a similar tax brea...k given in 2011. Businesses who have been closed as a result of restrictions are also entitled to up to 5000 per week compensation. There is no doubt that this sector of the economy has been one of the worst hit by the necessary restrictions implemented to stem the spread of the Covid-19 virus. It must also be stressed, however, that the hospitality sector is notorious as one of the lowest paying sectors in the economy with some of the worst conditions for ordinary workers. Cathie Shiels, Workers’ Party representative for Dublin North West said These workers were on the front-line when the virus hit and without the availability of the PUP and wage subsidy schemes many would have been unable to put food on the table. They are the lifeblood of the hospitality sector and will be the single most important factor in the recovery of the sector when we eventually return to some degree of normality. The hospitality sector is receiving considerable support from the state and it should be demanded in turn that there is a drastic improvement in both the conditions and pay of the workers in the sector; the very lack of these conditionalities is revealing in itself. There is no evidence that the previous tax break given in 2011 did anything but boost private profits and had no discernible benefit for workers. Shiels continued We have no doubt that many of those directly benefiting from the recent concessions would be the first to decry any substantial push for improvements in the pay and conditions of workers as being 'unreasonable', 'unrealistic' and 'bad for business'. This begs the question as to where these people (or their profits) would be without their front-line staff. In this eventuality we should politely remind them of the most recent bailout they have received from the state. In preparation for the issuing of that reminder it is vital that we get organised as a class and turn polite reminders into working class demands. See more

Remembering the revolutionary, anti-imperialist Thomas Sankara Imperialism is a system of exploitation that occurs not only in the brutal form of those who come with guns to conquer territory. Imperialism often occurs in more subtle forms, a loan, food aid, blackmail . We are fighting this system that allows a handful of men on Earth to rule all of humanity. Comrades, there is no true social revolution without the liberation of women. May my eyes never see and my feet never take me to a society where half the people are held in silence. I hear the roar of women’s silence. I sense the rumble of their storm and feel the fury of their revolt.

There is no doubt that working from home was increasingly becoming the norm before the pandemic. The necessary lockdown imposed on the population only served to bring a rapid upsurge in the number of workers that began working from home and in a more permanent capacity. Gemma Weir, Workers' Party representative for North Belfast said "Working from home is of course a win-win for most employers. Operating costs drop and various studies have shown that workers are more producti...ve when working at home. The flip side of this is that it has a less positive effect on employees. Not only do boundaries blur as workers tend to work longer hours when working from home, employees become responsible for their own expenses that were previously covered by their employers." Weir continued "Providing workers with a laptop is only one step to ensuring workers have what they need to work effectively from home, and it is not the responsibility of the worker to ensure that they have this. Prior to the pandemic most workers did not have a fully equip home office. The majority of research has shown that most employers did not permit workers to bring home any equipment to enable them to work remotely with most having to purchase the necessary equipment themselves. In addition to these workers are constantly using their own Wi-Fi, phones, electricity and heat while working at home with no extra subsidy. It is surprising and shocking just how quickly the expectation for workers to cover employer expenses became the norm. The reality is that for many workers the extra cost will continue to mount up and become even more of a worry on already strained finances." Weir concluded "When working from an office the employer bears the responsibility for ensuring the appropriate temperature, power, the correct equipment when this is transferred to a home setting the worker then becomes responsible for all of this. The expectation is that workers should foot the bill for their employer’s responsibility. Electricity bills were estimated to increase dramatically during lockdown and as the winter approaches many households who already struggle to cover the cost of heating will have this intensified with both themselves and possibly their children at home. A subsidy must be put in place by employers to ensure that all workers have the necessary equipment in place to do their jobs without being out of pocket themselves."

The Workers’ Party is dismayed at the half measures put in place by the Northern Ireland Assembly today. That it took this long for the Assembly to meet is astounding in itself but for the outcome to be this vague is insulting to our citizens and the crisis we are facing. Chris Bailie, Workers’ Party representative for North Belfast said The Assembly much like their equivalents in the south have purposely ignored all scientific and medical advice. Indeed we are very far aw...ay from an all-island approach and as a result we play Russian roulette with the lives of our populations particularly our most vulnerable. Pushing people back to work and children to school in August/September has led us to this point. Had we continued on a strategy of elimination the virus could well have been crushed as we have seen in countries like Vietnam and New Zealand. Bailie continued It is patently evident that the priority of the Assembly, Westminster and the Dail is the protection of profit before people. ICU beds in the north are almost at capacity and the health service continues to be stretched with our frontline workers facing increasing pressure. Bailie concludes With the closure of pubs and restaurants for four weeks the Workers’ Party demand that the Assembly ensure all workers in this industry are given 100% of their wages to ensure that they do not face even more hardships or worries during this difficult time. Once again the Workers’ Party calls for a full lockdown across the island with the necessary financial support for workers and small businesses, restrictions to international travel and enforced quarantine for those returning or arriving to the island as well as a fit for purpose contact tracing system working across borders. The failure to adopt an all-island policy continues to put lives at risk. An all-island approach to an all-island problem is the only solution and our governments must act fast to save lives and protect our citizens.

Budget 2021 leaves workers and their families behind in favour of corporate Ireland, says Workers’ Party representative for Dublin Mid-West, David Gardiner. Re...acting to the figures announced today, Gardiner said: This budget will bring little if any relief to working class people and, in many regards, will worsen things significantly for them. Housing will remain largely unaffordable, childcare continues to be neglected by the government and a fuel hike will be another unwelcome addition for many families. "For all of the applause that the government has given workers over the COVID-19 pandemic, their praise clearly hasn't materialised in any serious way. Meanwhile, the corporate tax rate stays the same. Who is really winning in this budget?" This budget has completely ignored the needs of workers across the country. Covid has fully exposed the failings of capitalism and it is obvious the working class are once again going to suffer because of a lack of planning by this government https://workersparty.ie/workers-left-wanting-in-budget-2021/

The National Commemoration Committee of the Workers’ Party have taken the decision to hold the forthcoming commemoration for the 45th anniversary of the 1975 pogrom as an online event. The National Commemoration Committee have not taken this decision lightly and have discussed the appropriate action at length. Due to the increase in the R rate the committee felt in the interests of public health and safety it would be irresponsible of us to hold an event where the spread of ...infection could be a possibility. The commemoration will now take place on 31st October at 5pm on the Workers’ Party of Ireland facebook page @workerspartyireland We understand that members and supporters will be disappointed, as we are. We had hoped to meet in person where we could remember and commemorate the memory of our fallen comrades together. But as everyone will be all too aware the virus is spreading rapidly and to hold a commemoration in person would put our members and supporters at risk, which is not the appropriate way to remember our comrades. This is the safest way to ensure that a commemoration takes place so we can remember our comrades with pride and honour. A full itinerary of the event will follow shortly.

Injunction against Debenhams workers shows need to change anti-union laws

The choice is stark. Either capitalism and ecological disaster or Socialism. There is no 'third way'. https://tribunemag.co.uk//we-cant-stop-climate-change-with

The Workers’ Party of Ireland send their solidarity and support to the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) members arrested in Denver, Colorado on bogus felony charges. This is a blatant attempt to silence the PSL given their outspoken stance against the systematic racism in the United States; particularly in the wake of the violent murder of George Floyd and Elijah McClain. It is by no means an isolated incident. The United States has a long history of attempting to ...silence anyone who dares to defy them and vocally condemn the capitalist system which exploits workers worldwide. We have seen the disgraceful treatment of Julian Assange who is currently still held in Belmarsh prison awaiting the verdict of his extradition hearing and the ongoing criminalisation of the US protest movement in general. It is no coincidence that the United States has now openly banned communists from seeking citizenships. We can be under no illusion McCarthyism is alive and well and it continues in its attempts to bully and silence those who seek to create a better world. The arrests of four PSL members are a blatant attempt to discredit the PSL movement and its anti-capitalist ideology. The Workers’ Party of Ireland expresses its extreme concern at the growing repression against those who stand up and speak out against the United States and their reactionary regime. These actions by the United States represent but one incident in a global strategy against the left, revolutionary socialists, journalists and whistleblowers committed to truth and the working class of all countries. The Workers’ Party of Ireland demand that all charges against PSL members are dropped immediately. Sign the petition here https://www.pslweb.org/dropthecharges

A busy weekend, back in West Belfast on a sunny Sunday afternoon continuing to spread our message of working class unity

Mental health is a growing concern particularly in working class communities. On world mental health day the Workers’ Party calls on the Irish Government and Stormont to ensure proper funding is in place for our health service and communities to support those suffering with mental health issues. In our daily lives we should all try to be more understanding of each other and remember we don’t always know what someone else is going through.

Spreading our message of working class unity in North Belfast with Workers’ Party representative Gemma Weir If you have any issues you would like help or support with contact us on here or [email protected]

Spreading our message of working class unity today around the Lower Falls with our Workers’ Party West Belfast representative Conor Campbell If there are any issues you would like help with contact us on here or [email protected]