| From Unity, 7 June 2008 |
NIPSA conference, 2008by Mary HortonThe NIPSA conference took place last weekend, with a major emphasis on the defence of public services. Jobs, water charges and total opposition to the privatisation of services were up for discussion.John Corry emphasised the need to protect against the privatisation of services, especially since David Varney has reappeared in Northern Ireland to review the local economy. Public housing was identified as a major issue, and the Northern Ireland Assembly was targeted. There was a call to keep pressure on the Assembly through the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Indeed there will be a demonstration on Monday 9 June, at 12:30 p.m., at Stormont in defence of public services. A variety of issues were discussed at the conference, including environmental issues and the need to be fully involved in the push for clean, green jobs. The need to use the learning funds to expand and embrace good practice was discussed, and the need to win young people to the unions was also raised. On the international scene a motion was passed that congratulated the Cuban people on the coming fiftieth anniversary. The motion condemns all forms of US aggression towards Cuba and congratulates Cuba on the social and economic achievements of the revolution over the past fifty years. An emergency motion to “condemns the decision to invite George Bush to Northern Ireland in June 2008. Bush is responsible for the invasions and the occupation of both Iraq and Afghanistan and the carnage that has resulted.” The motion calls for support for the protest planned against Bush’s visit. A healthy left presence was evident, with stalls from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, the International Brigade Commemoration Committee, and sales of Unity and the Morning Star. |
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