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Meath Trades Council backs Raise the Roof and Keep Water Public campaigns

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Michael Keaveny

Published: Wed 23 Nov 2022, 5:11 PM

Members of the public have been asked to attend the Raise the Roof march in Dublin on Saturday, 26th November, by delegates following a meeting of the Meath Trades Council in Navan on November 22.

The delegates also voted to back the Keep Water Public campaign for a referendum to ensure the public ownership of water services.

Meath Trades Council Chairman and SIPTU Organiser, John Regan, said: “There were 16 unions represented, including the Irish Second-Level Students Union, at this well-attended meeting of the Meath Trades Council. The delegates decided to call on union members and the general public to attend the Raise the Roof march and rally in Dublin on Saturday, 26th November, which assembles at Parnell Square at 1.00 p.m.

“The meeting also expressed its disappointment and dismay at reports that nationwide rents have risen on average by 14% this year. We called on the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien, to stop playing politics and name the date for a referendum to create a constitutional right to housing.”

Meath Trades Council Secretary and ASTI Assistant General Secretary, Moira Leydon, said: “The Trades Council also debated the ongoing campaign to save our public water services. The ‘Keep Water Public’ campaign is being led by members of SIPTU, Fórsa, Connect and Unite with the support of the ICTU. The meeting resolved to call on all trade union members and the general public to back the campaign by signing the online petition at www.keepwaterpublic.ie which calls on the Government to confirm a date for a constitutional referendum on the public ownership of water services.

SIPTU Head of Organising, Darragh O’Connor, who is coordinating the ‘Keep Water Public’ campaign, said: “There is overwhelming support for water services to remain in public ownership which is clearly evident in the numbers signing the online petition. We need the minister, Darragh O’Brien, to live up to his commitment and name the date for a referendum.”