Sir, - I wish to thank the general secretary of SIPTU for responding to my letter about our union funding the Labour party and the damage that it does to our credibility. However, I am astounded at how out of touch with the grassroots members of SIPTU that he actually is. The vast majority of union members are only in recent times becoming aware that they are actually contributing to the Labour party, to Labour election campaigns and Labour constituency offices. Indeed, my letter in this paper was the first that many of my work colleagues knew of this practice and they were appalled at it.
I welcome his comments that he would be willing to forgo these payments, but reject it being linked to other actions. Corporate donations to parties, such as £1,000-a-head golf classics including dinner with Ruairi Quinn, should be ended at once but should have no bearing on SIPTU doing the democratic thing and ending the funding of Labour.
He is also mistaken if he thinks our credibility as a union is not damaged by links to Labour. Just one of many examples is the complete lack of action taken by the trade union leadership when Labour/Fianna Fail introduced the notorious tax amnesty for their buddies in big business while PAYE workers were being told to tighten their belts, while social welfare recipients were being demonised and while people refusing to pay unjust service charges were being jailed.
I am calling on him to ensure that every member of our union is written to immediately and that, unless they give their consent in writing, these individuals contributions to Labour will be stopped. I also am calling for a nationwide ballot of all members to be carried out of all SIPTU members to determine whether this funding should be stopped completely. This is the only democratic option open. - Yours, etc.,
Gerard Regan, Ash Grove, Maugheraboy, Sligo.