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manifesto |
Jobs
Develop state owned industry and services to provide secure and well paid employment for all. Cut the working week to 32 hours without loss in pay to increase the number of jobs available.
Workers' Rights
For a legal minimum wage of £5.00 an hour. Make it illegal to sack or intimidate workers for joining trade unions or engaging in union activity. All workers, whether full time, part time or on contracts to have full pension, sick pay and holiday rights. For democratic trade unions that actively fight for the interests of their members, rather than accepting and pushing the dictates of the bosses.
Women's Rights
No discrimination against women in pay, employment or promotional opportunities. The provision of refuges, financial support and counselling services by the state to help women suffering from violence to build new lives. No to another referendum on abortion. For legislation (to be introduced) to give effect to the Supreme Court ruling on the X case.
Public Health
End waiting lists and improve treatment by increasing investment and resources to the public health service End the profiteering from people's heath needs. For the recruitment of enough doctors to solely work in the public health system For a free and comprehensive health care as a basic human right.
Welfare Rights
For a minimum social welfare payment of £100 a week for the unemployed, pensioners and those on sickness or disability benefit. No taxation of benefits Restore pay related benefits in full For easy access to public transport and all public buildings for the aged and people who have a physical disadvantage.
Young People
Equal and entirely free access to education at all levels for all our young people. For a major increase in investment in education at primary level, especially in poorer areas. An end to exploitation of young people. Real jobs for young people, with decent pay and the same rights as other workers. No to cheap labour schemes. A guaranteed place on a real training scheme for all school leavers and the young unemployed.
The Socialist Party is Ireland's newest political party. Labour and Democratic Left have sold out the people who supported them in the last election. None of the existing Dail parties represent the interests of ordinary working people. They are a cosy club of careerists in the pockets of big business and the wealthy. That is why a new party, standing for a new and different type of politics, to represent ordinary people is necessary. The Socialist Party is just that. Real Socialists, real campaigners on behalf of ordinary people will make a real difference, unlike Labour and Democratic Left. The Socialist Party stands for a truly secular, democratic and socialist society. The most undemocratic feature of our society, and the main barrier to achieving equal rights, justice and a dignified standard of living for all is the dictatorship of the bosses and the capitalist market. The Socialist Party stands for taking economic power out of the hands of the bankers, speculators, and wealthy industrialists and transferring it to those who do the work and create the wealth, working class people. We stand for public ownership and democratic socialist planning of the key areas of economic activity. The Socialist Party will not be for sale to the highest bidder. We do not expect Ben Dunne or Larry Goodman to make donations to our party, but if they tried, we would not accept their bribes. The Socialist Party regards its independence form big business as a matter of principle.
Labour and Democratic Left have sold out the people who supported them in the last election. None of the existing Dail parties represent the interests of ordinary working people. They are a cosy club of careerists in the pockets of big business and the wealthy. That is why a new party, standing for a new and different type of politics, to represent ordinary people is necessary. The Socialist Party is just that. Real Socialists, real campaigners on behalf of ordinary people will make a real difference, unlike Labour and Democratic Left. The Socialist Party stands for a truly secular, democratic and socialist society. The Socialist Party stands for taking economic power out of the hands of the bankers, speculators and wealthy industrialists and transferring it to those who do the work and create the wealth, working class people. We stand for public ownership and democratic socialist planning of the key areas of economic activity. The Socialist Party will not be for sale to the highest bidder. We do not expect Ben Dunne or Larry Goodman to make donations to our party, but if they tried, we would not accept their bribes.
"I hereby pledge that, if elected as a Socialist Party TD, I will accept only the wage of an average worker, £15,000 a year before tax. I will donate the balance of my salary to be used to assist in building the Socialist Party and other campaign groups fighting on behalf of ordinary working people."
Joe Higgins
Once this election is over, the TDs in the other parties will move to vote through a 30% wage increase for themselves. They are already paid more than twice the average worker's wage of £15,000 a year. Many working people don't even earn anything approaching that figure. We believe that its not possible for TDs, and indeed Trade Union Leaders, to stay in touch with and understand the problems of those they represent, if they are earning two or three times the wages of ordinary people.
For more details check out the Socialist Party Homepage http://www.dojo.ie/socialist
or email Socialist Party (UL) 9314091@student.ul.ie