More Power to You, a coalition of Fórsa, SIPTU, and Connect, launched its local election manifesto on Wednesday 22nd May, calling for stronger local government and local services, and more effective local democracy.

Political party representatives from across the political spectrum attended the event to hear about trade union priorities ahead of the upcoming local elections. 

The local elections take place on Thursday 7th June. Close to 2,000 candidates are running in 31 local authorities. In total, there are 949 seats to be filled across 166 local electoral areas.

This manifesto spells out the trade union coalition’s priorities for the campaign across five areas: Democracy, Waste, Water, Housing, Energy & Climate.

Speaking at the launch, Fórsa national secretary Richy Carrothers underlined the importance of effective local government in a democracy, and the importance of  bringing vital public services back under the control of local authorities.

He said: “Workers in local authorities all around Ireland provide public services that are essential to our everyday lives. These services are underfunded and undervalued.”

“The network of local services and amenities across Ireland are the fabric which bind society together. In our schools, homes, parks, and community centres, they provide the roots that tie our communities together.”

This manifesto calls for an enhanced role for local government in service provision, in decision-making and in rebuilding public confidence in democracy. It calls for:

• Better funding for local authorities
• Directly elected mayors
• Return of waste collection services to local authorities
• Referendum on public ownership of water
• Local authority-led cost rental public housing
• Increased local authority direct labour for homer energy upgrades and maintenance
• Local authority-led community ownership of renewable energy projects

Head of campaigns Grace Williams urged members to ask candidates running for election if they support the trade union coalition’s priorities. She said: “When candidates knock on your door in the weeks ahead, ask them what they will do to support workers in local authorities and to improve local government.”

You can read the full manifesto here.

You can download, print and display a one-page summary of the election priorities here. 

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