As some of the public sector workers commence their industrial action against the proposed pension levy, and as others ballot their members to do likewise, Dr Bernie Courtney, Labour candidate in the Castlebar Town Council election calls for both Mayo Fianna Fáil TDs to push for a Government re-think on this unjust tax.
“The sheer size of the crowd who turned up for last Saturday’s march in Dublin had to be seen to be believed,” said Courtney, herself a public sector worker in the HSE.
“Even before it started it was impossible to reach the gathering points in Parnell Square and impossible to travel down O'Connell Street,” she added.
“I found it impossible to reach my friends in time for the start and as I went down along the assembled crowds of public sector workers, from every corner of this country, I realised with astonishment that large as this crowd was, it was only the tip of the iceberg, only a small portion representing all those angry and disgruntled colleagues back home. Mayo in particular, was well represented on the march,” said Courtney, who advised Deputies Dara Calleary and Beverley Flynn to pay heed to this.
“This country doesn’t need industrial unrest, doesn’t need divisive unjust laws and levies. We need to put our shoulders to the wheel and push this country back on to firm financial ground. I know that we can do it,” added a defiant Courtney.
“We can do it if we are all to carry the burden equally and that starts with getting rid of the levy,” said Courtney who called on Deps Calleary and Flynn to show their strength of character and support for the hard working public sector workers in Mayo and urged them to come out publicly and call for a Government rethink on the issue.
