THE Socialist Workers' Party (SWP) has launched its first general election campaign with a call for a £5-an-hour minimum wage.
The party, which is running four candidates in Dublin and Waterford, is thought to have little chance of winning a seat. However, it takes encouragement from the 38,000 votes one of its members, Ms Carol Ann Duggan, polled in the recent SIPTU presidential election.
Ms Brid Smith, the SWP candidate in Dublin South Central, says it is "nonsense" to say the State could not afford a £5 minimum wage. "We think it is wrong that banks like AIB make £421 million in annual profits while workers are expected to work for as little as £2.50 an hour," she says.
Ms Smith, who is employed by the union Mandate, is campaigning for a shorter working week and an earlier retirement age.
According to the party's director of elections, Mr Kieran Allen, the reality behind the "Celtic Tiger" has been exposed by the Dunnes payments tribunal. "The main political parties are in the pockets of big business, who enjoy massive profits and huge tax amnesties while working class people get nothing."
The party's candidate in Dublin South East, Dr Peadar O'Grady, was arrested last Saturday while speaking outside the Swan Centre in Rathmines.
He was subsequently charged with common assault on a garda, disorderly conduct in a Garda station and threatening and abusive behaviour. He described the arrest as a "gross infringement" of his right.
Dr O'Grady, who is a child psychiatrist, attacked plans by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to cut corporation tax for businesses as "a disgraceful waste of money " The main parties were saying there was no money for health and education "yet the consumption of champagne and caviar is going through the roof."
Mr Ritchie Browne, who is standing in Dublin North Central, said he voted Labour in the last general election but felt "totally betrayed" by the party now. "Labour has sold out the working classes by repeatedly putting profit before people," said Mr Browne, who was involved in the TEAM Aer Lingus dispute.
The only SWP candidate out side Dublin is Mr Jimmy Kelly, chief shop steward in Waterford Wedgwood, who is standing in the Waterford constituency.
