BIN TAX PROTEST (BalconyTV)

BALCONYTV.COM 27/11/2007
A Bin Tax protest took place last night at City Hall.
Activists accross Dublin have been continuously challenging the privatisation and sell off of our public services.

Cllr. Eric Byrne of the Labour Party proposed the motion at Dublin City Council that management plans for outsourcing of the bin service should be allowed. The motion was passed with the support of all the political parties represented on the Council: namely Sinn Féin, Greens, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the PDs and Labour.
The plan involves allowing private operators to make bids for certain routes. The Dublin City Council would then judge the various bids and award an operator that delivers the most 'competitive' price plan. This outsourcing is likely to lead to a 'race to the bottom' in wages and conditions for the bin workers as firms with lower pay and worse working conditions are more likely to succeed. Cllr. Eric Byrne defended his actions by arguing that this proposal is worth defending as "cherry-picking" of routes would be countered by the City Council's regulation of the contracts.
The move of the Dublin City Council follows Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown's privatisation under a Labour-FG coalition. In DLR the Council have handed over names and addresses of residents to Panda waste to facilitate them getting business off the Council. - IndyMedia.ie Oct 2007

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/79907
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84504

Tune in again tomorrow!!!