Homeless trade union activist calls for resistance to crisis

This speech was given by Independent Workers Union and Security Officers United rep Les Graham.

We fully endorse his words.

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My name is Les Graham I’m here representing the IWU (Independent Workers Union) also the SOU (Security Officers United campaign) and at this moment in time I am working and homeless and living between 3 different properties, one of the hidden homeless never talked about that live on sofas or camp beds in living rooms because of a national emergency that’s out of control called a housing crisis.

At the turn of the last century when this country faced another national emergency called British imperialism that was strangling this country and its people organised unions under the leadership and ideals of Larkin and Connelly fought back through the unions by organising Strikes in 1918,1920 and 1922 to disrupt British infrastructure around the country and refusing to collaborate with the British authorities effectively bringing this country to a stand still.

What I would like to ask the ICTU (Irish congress of trade unions) is why with a government that is again oppressing working class people in this country with another national emergency like this housing crisis is how they haven’t mobilised their members and shut this country down again.

Some of their members have become homeless due to greedy landlords and vulture funds and a government with no empathy for the people in this country.

I’m calling for action now from all ICTU Unions. The 1990 trade union agreement sold to the unions has weaken their position and effectively made them a puppet for the government. This agreement must be abolished and the ICTU unions must mobilise working class people in this country.

And show this government that everyone deserves to have a home and a place to live.