Galway health union applauds marchers

galway | worker & community struggles and protests | news report

Saturday September 11, 2010 15:42

by Paul Hardy - SIPTU Health Division

phardy at siptu dot ie

Trade union SIPTU, whose Health Division represents nurses, care assistants and support staff at Merlin Park Hospital In Galway, applauds the 500 people who marched from Merlin Park Hospital to Eyre Square today (September 11)

Trade union support

Called by orthopedic surgeons Mr Stephen Kearns and Mr William Curtin, the march was supported by SIPTU, community groups and members of the public. Councillor Derek Nolan (Lab), Cllr Padraig Conneely (FG), Padraic McCormack TD (FG) and Noel Grealish TD (Ind) also attended the march.

SIPTU Health Division organiser for Galway, Paul Hardy, said:

"Some local politicians have recently accused the Galway health unions, and SIPTU in particular, of scaremongering. We would now like to hear those same politicians either include the eminent surgeons who marched with us today in their accusation, or, better, use their privileged position on the Government benches to protect the world-class orthopaedic services at Merlin Park and the city’s other health services from creeping privatisation or outright closure."

"Today’s march was an excellent preparation for the Galway Says No to Health Cuts protest in a fortnight’s time. Only a coalition of health workers and concerned members of the public can stop the Government vandalising the city’s health services."

SIPTU and community group Galway Says No to Health Cuts are to stage another march and rally on Saturday September 25 (2pm) from the Cathedral to University Hospital Galway (UCHG).

Galway Says No to Health Cuts

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Comments (2 of 2)

campaign comments

by dette mc loughlin - Galway says NO to Health Cuts campaign

Sat Sep 11, 2010 19:46

5dette at eircom dot net

The "Galway says No to Health Cuts" campaign supported the consultants' call to march from Merlin Park hospital to Eyre Square, Galway city today, Saturday 11th September to highlight the crisis in our public health service and the attacks on Merlin Park hospital in particular. Although only up to 600 walked the 3 miles today, it has to be noted that the weather was abysmal and there had not been alot of advertising for the demo itself by the consultants. But they have to be commended for taking action.

Councillor Catherine Connolly (Ind.) was the only politician to march the route with the protesters although a number of other councillors and 2 TDs put in an appearance either at the assembly point or at the end. The campaign committee collected signatures on their petition to the Irish government objecting to the cut-backs in public hospitals and healthcare services. Chairperson of Fine Gael, TD Paraic Mac Cormac, and TD Noel Grealish, former PD and current supporter of the FF/Green/Harney government, both added their signatures to the petition that concludes, "We refuse to accept that the welfare of bankers and bondholders should come before our health care, in Galway and elsewhere."

The Socialist Party and the Socialist Workers Party both had contingents on the march.

Almost everyone at the demonstration took away fliers to advertise and build for the "Galway Says NO to Health Cuts" protest to be held on Saturday 25th September, assemble 2pm Galway Cathedral to march the short distance to University Hospital Galway for a rally with speakers from the health-workers, patients, and community. We need this to be as big, broad and inclusive demonstration as possible. All trade unions, workers, patients, community groups and individuals need to come along- we are facing a local and national emergency.

build a united nation wide campaign

by conor burke - the socialist party

Sun Sep 12, 2010 20:20

yesterday saw between 5 and 6 hundred health workers, union members , community groups and members of the public take to the streets in protest over the proposed cuts to health services in Merlin park and across the west , this was the first step in what will hopefully be the start of a much broader campaign that can join together all the different health campaign groups across the west . it is only by joining together and forming a mass opposition to all the cuts to every aspect of health services that we can hope to defeat this government and its privatisation agenda, we hope to see everyone who understands the importance that the public health service plays in our society out on the streets on Saturday 25th at 2pm ,regardless of designer labels or not,(@ galwegian if you had actually attended you would have seen your statement to totally incorrect, not sure exactly what your point was in any case??)

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Galway health union applauds marchers

Comments (2 of 2)