On Wednesday 21st April Organise! held a public meeting in Belfast, “Fighting to Win – Beating The Water Tax”.

The meeting was addressed by Dermot Sreenan of the Workers Solidarity Movement who had been involved in the two and a half year campaign which defeated water charges in the south in December 1996. Direct action, obstruction of attempted disconnects, ‘illegal’ reconnection of water supplies to those who had been cut off, households contributing to a legal defence fund and mass non-payment made this tax a nightmare for the Irish state to enforce. This resulted in a clear victory for working class self organisation. The same can be done in the north.

The Federation of Dublin Anti-Water Charges Campaigns, of which Dermot was an active member, was based on resistance – street by street, community by community. Each and every person involved in this campaign was crucial.

The lessons are clear and time is short. Government are looking to implement Water Charges in April 2006. Anti-Water Charges groups must be built in working class communities over the coming months. Central to the building of the campaign must be non-payment of any water charges. Many cannot afford to pay but some may be able to meet the cost by tightening their belts. The point is that working class people should not be the ones expected to tighten their belts. Industry which is at present metered uses over 50% of water yet ordinary people will be expected to cover around 70% of the projected costs.

Water Charges are an unjust double tax, despite what government tells us water has always been paid for in our rates. With around 37% of our rates bills paying for water. Only mass non-payment, in solidarity with those who cannot afford to have their water turned into a commodity, will defeat water charges.

By making them unenforceable.

Government claim that due to years of under investment, by them, that the water service must be self financing. They claim privatisation is not on the agenda but all the options to induce private investment will see demands for a ‘return’ - a profit from the supply of a basic human necessity. Yet they have money aplenty to invest in war and the arms trade. £300 million has been spent on NOT finding any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. What’s going on? Government have plenty of money to spend to help pursue the interests of the rich and powerful – they don’t want to keep spending the taxes they take off workers on the working class.

This is a struggle which we cannot afford to lose. If we do we can be sure more attacks will follow, whether implemented by Westminster or our local ‘representatives’ at Stormont. However, when we do win we will set them and their neo-liberal agenda of attacks on working people back years. Such a victory will inspire confidence in the working class and a knowledge that together, despite our trade union ‘leaders’ and politicians, we can achieve great things.

And we can win this struggle, it will be hard work, it is work to which members of Organise! are committed. Anyone can get involved, hold meetings in your local area, support non-payment and direct action, build resistance in your street. Join us in defeating water charges and privatisation of our water. Contact us or the Communities Against the Water Tax to get involved (see the contact information).

N Government plans for water reform will mean massive job losses, the running down of services and the introduction of charges for water use.

Water charges for Northern Ireland are set to be amongst the highest in the UK – bearing in mind that sewerage and water charges in Scotland are up to £1,300 per year – a bill of between £400 and £600 a appears the most likely annual charge at this stage.

The charging regime is likely to be based on property value and there will be no exemptions.

A 25% discount, which has been suggested for people claiming certain ‘passport’ benefits, is not aimed at assisting the poorest and most vulnerable in our society. This is a cynical manipulation, an attempt to secure greater public and political acceptance. This is, according to internal Government recommendations, to be a temporary measure paid for by the hiking up of water charges across the board to subsidise this ‘assistance’.

Meanwhile the new Water Services boss is on a salary of £150,000 plus bonuses to ensure they push this through.

The Water Service aim to cut 350 jobs initially and centralise work. The total number of jobs lost could be up to 900. Job losses and centralisation of services will further erode services in outlying and rural districts.

While Minister John Spellar has stated that privatisation is not an option ALL the options being looked at are privatisation by different means.