Labour have betrayed their legacy - Kelly

Cllr Anthony Kelly has accused Minister Brendan Howlin and his colleagues in the labour party of betraying the historic legacy of their movement by supporting outlandish austerity measures on ordinary families and forcing  pay cuts on public servants because they voted down croke park 2.  The Wexford Sinn Féin councillor said that those legends of the labour movement who took part in the lock out in Wexford town a century ago would turn their backs in disgust on the modern day labour party if they were alive today.

Cllr Kelly said;

"Its been reported in recent days that Minister Brendan Howlin is planning on legislating to cut public servants pay and freeze their increments if they do not accept Croke Park 2.  Its ironic thgreat lock at this is the one hundred anniversary of the great lock out in Dublin, a historic period that labour still claims as its finest hour.  Who would have thought that on the centenary of this event a senior Labour party Minister would be planning on defying the democratic decisions of the unions and preparing to implement draconian wage cuts in an effort to break the will of protesting workers." 

"What would the leaders of the lock outs say about the current labour party? What would James Connolly or Jim Larkin say if they were alive today? What would Wexfords Richard Corish say about Minister Howlins actions? They would no doubt turn their back in disgust on this labour party that has betrayed its historic legacy and the working people of Ireland."

"The Labour party is still insisting that the only way to save Ireland is to force austerity on ordinary families and to cut the pay of hard pressed public workers  They refuse to accept the truth that austerity has failed across Europe.  They refuse to consider progressive proposals such as the creation of a wealth tax or a third band of income tax at 48% for those earning over €100,000 per annum.  They refuse to adequately tackle mass unemployment and out of control emigration.  They have failed."