Workers Party city councillor Ted Tynan has condemned the decision of City Manager Tim Lucey to privatise the city’s refuse service which came into effect on Monday, August 15th.
Cllr. Tynan said that the decision would have serious effects on the city and he said that the 11,000 people and families currently on council waivers would be thrown to the wolves once a 2 year introductory arrangement was over.
“This decision by the city manager without any reference to the elected members”, said Cllr. Tynan, “is a step backward and will inevitably lead to a poorer service where profit will overtake public health and cleanliness as the number one priority. It is a further move in the direction of rampant privatisation and gives a warning to householders that once water charges are introduced privatisation of the water service will be next on the agenda”.
“The temporary continuation of a waiver scheme and the initial price to consumers is merely a ploy, the real cost of this to consumers, and particularly to those on very low incomes, will come in a few years time. Then we will see the real price of this service to consumers and the price to the environment and to workers’ rights and rates of pay”, he said.
The Workers Party councillor said that the move should alert householders to what is coming down the tracks if water charges are introduced without a strong challenge. “Water Charges must be resisted because water privatisation is next on the agenda. It cannot succeed however if there is massive resistance from householders to water metering and charges. Privatisation is about private profit and without charges there is no private profit”, said Cllr. Tynan.
