Government needs to pay soldiers a decent wage
When the
country faces floods or other disasters it’s always the rank and file soldiers who
are called on to help.
Yet, when the economic crash came in 2009, rank and file soldiers were hit with cuts to pay, allowances
and even pensions.
Many
soldiers have to rely on Family Income Supplement just to get by. Soldiers and
their families face the same high rents and pressures as other families.
Some
soldiers have been forced to sleep outside barracks in cars because they can’t
afford the fuel to travel home and back.
That is why
‘Wives and Partners of the Defence Forces’ are right to protest. People Before
Profit fully support these protests and will use our platform in the Dáil to
voice soldier’s concerns.
Soldiers
themselves are barred from protest or strike action. Even the representative
body, PDFORRA, doesn’t have the same status as regular unions.
In a recent
study over 75% of soldiers said they were unhappy with pay and conditions with
many others suffering from severe stress.
The truth is
the government want the soldiers to follow orders without question and accept
bad pay and conditions without kicking up a fuss.
All workers
need to support the soldiers and their demands. Soldier’s representative bodies
should be given the same legal status as other unions.
We are for
the right for soldiers themselves to protest against bad pay and conditions.
The top 300
people in Ireland have over €100 Billion. If the government were willing to tax
the rich then there would be no need to hammer soldiers and other workers.
That’s why
we need to get rid of the establishment parties and put in people who will
stand up for soldiers, their families and all workers.