RELAND Not the end of the world

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When it comes to suppressing democracy, the union bureaucrats of Ireland are no •more squeamish than any other specimens.

Members of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union recently voted by a majority of more than two to one to reject the wage deal proposed by government and employers.

As the ITGWU is the country's largest union, this threatened a further rejection by the subsequent Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which threw out a similar package last year.

Cynical But as Senator Fintan Kennedy, ITGWU President, and other officials cynically pointed out, such a vote would not be 'the end of the world".

As happened last year, Congress Executive would simply press on regardless to negotiate mild reforms and a more attractive presentation.

In the event, such tactics were unnecessary as Congress accepted the deal by a tiny majority.

Some form of government wage control is vital to the Fianna Fail's strategy of reflation to boost capitalist profitability in Ireland. But the proposals agreed by the labour leaders also include compulsory cooling off' periods to freeze strikes.

Jack Lynch's government has been made all the more eager to force through this attack by two major disputes which are at present severely disrupting Ireland's communications and trading.

The best efforts of Labour Party leaders and union officials have so far failed to crack the strike by telephone and telex operators, protesting against attempts to impose new manning levels and speed-up through the introduction of new technology.

In a blatant move to discredit the action, state employers have ignored the strikers' offer to operate emergency services for hospitals.

Workers at Aer Lingus are also resisting pressure to end their strike for higher wages. As hostesses are refusing to cross the pickets of clerical and supervisory staff, the airline has been forced to lease aircraft to continue its flights.

Haven

Successive gover 5 nment have sought to transform ireland into a peaceful haven of capitalist exploitation.

But the co-operation of union bureaucrats has not managed to produce a class of docile workers.

Increasingly workers have taken strike action to fight low wages and oppressive conditions.

As they enter into these struggles, the bourgeoisie has sought with desperation to attract international capital by more repressive labour legislation an: swing attacks on work: basic rights.

The ote wage COnTrOl ha rea new probler hut has done nothing to the problems of the bourgeoisie by delaying for even a little longer the end of the capitalist world.