CATU News - Week 3 - We're So Back

A chairde,

The collective devastation of a whole month sans-newsletter can finally ease. Well done for powering through etc. etc.

As a new year kicks off, there’s much to consider as we take steps towards building the union’s strength and capacity in the face of many challenges, be it from inept Governments, an emboldened far-right or a landlord class whose wealth continues to soar.

Our responsibility, of course, is to find positive solutions. To this end, the union’s National Committee, local reps and staff team will be meeting this coming Sunday to set out a strategic direction and plan of action for the next 5 years.

Ahead of this, the Anti-Racism working group has prepared a statement of intentions and suggestions feeding into the development of this 5 year plan. Please take a few minutes to read the statement HERE.

Campaign win for CATU Davitt House!

Members of the CATU Davitt House Committee and CATU’s Crumlin/Drimnagh branch met with representatives of Dublin City Council on Thursday, December 14th to discuss the urgent action needed to meet the three core demands of the committee: insulation, new windows/doors and accessibility. On average, tenants in Davitt House are currently spending €80-100 a week to heat their homes.

The Council previously failed to deliver a written timeline of resolution after meetings had taken place in July of 2023.

These meetings with council reps were the result of a successful campaign by the Davitt House Committee and CATU D12 branch members to pressure Council management to the negotiating table. With surveys, petitions, and actions from March to December of this year, the anger of inaction from DCC culminated in a demonstration outside City Hall on December 4th as the Council held its monthly meeting.

The December meeting resulted in an agreed written timeline given on December 21st from the maintenance department of Dublin City Council for carrying out the work needed to address the Davitt House Committee’s demands - The first written commitment the Council has provided to the Committee. Over the coming weeks, the Davitt House Committee and CATU’s Crumlin/Drimnagh branch will be holding them to what was agreed in writing and ensuring the work is urgently needed for Davitt House is completed so that not another winter is spent in freezing cold flats.

This was a nine month campaign fought hard by members of our union.

Last night, Davitt tenants met to acknowledge how far the committee has come since March of 2023 but also to acknowledge that DCC must be held accountable to ensure all agreed demands are met. The Committee will be writing to DCC this week to follow up on all agreements to see "DCC get to work" on Davitt House blocks A & B.

Collective action makes change. When you organise you win. Let’s Have it For Davitt! From one block to many more!

Another huge win for CATU Belfast, who this morning received confirmation that a fellow member has had her eviction cancelled by Mears Housing. The member continued to receive eviction notices and was even visited at home by Mears staff members while heavily pregnant in an effort to pressure her out.

She held firm and through collective action alongside the branch, the eviction threat has now been lifted. This follows a series of other similar wins in Belfast in recent months.

CATU Cork’s doorknocking campaign in the Mayfield area is progressing well, with half of all residents reached. This has yielded some new memberships in the area as well as introducing the branch to people who were involved in the 1970s Rent Strikes. If you’re in Cork and would like to be involved in some doorknocking sessions, contact [email protected] 

The branch are also currently engaging with the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign around collaborating on some local direct actions - keep an eye out for more news on that shortly.

In Solidarity,

Naoise Faogáin
National Administrator
Community Action Tenants Union - CATU Ireland
www.catuireland.org