The Cost of Living Coalition group in Mayo will host a public meeting at 7.30pm on Wednesday August 10 in the Travellers Friend Hotel, Castlebar.
The aim of the meeting will be to organise and plan upcoming demonstrations to demand real action from the government on the inflationary crisis. All genuine volunteers are welcome to attend.
The coalition includes People Before Profit, Sinn Fein, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, USI, The Rural Ireland Organisation, SIPTU, The Dublin Council of Trades Unions, The Senior Citizens Parliament, SPARK and other groups.
Spokesperson for the coalition in Mayo, Joe Daly, stated: "With general inflation at over 9% this year and the latest predictions that diesel and electricity could double or even treble in price because of the EU embargo on oil & gas from Russia, there is an urgent need for action.
"Working families, small businesses and small farmers are being crippled by the profiteering of highly profitable energy and fossil fuel corporations.
"In March, Bord Gáis, increased its average electricity bill by 27% and the average gas bill by 39%, just last week the formerly state owned company announced increased profits of 74% at €39.4 million while its parent company, Centrica, posted overall profits of €1.6 billion - an increase of over 80%; a direct result of privatisation.
"To add insult to never-ending injury, the same fossil fuel corporations that are causing climate destruction are raking in huge profits while the planet burns.
"Meanwhile, the Irish government is on holiday, taking a publicly subsidised break from tinkering around the edges while allowing these opportunists to pocket a huge windfall from the Ukrainian war and the supply problems created by the pandemic."
"We are calling on the workers, trade unionists, small farmers, self employed workers and all those affected by this crisis in Mayo to join the Cost of Living Coalition to force real action from this do nothing government."
