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A chairde,

Stick the kettle on! Take the rest of the day off! This week’s newsletter is huge.

First up, with a general election in the south now confirmed to take place on November 29th, the union’s election working group have called a meeting for next Monday, November 11th at 18:00. The purpose of this meeting is to run through our demands and plan cross-branch actions to support each others' struggles and take advantage of the political moment. The meeting will take place online and can be accessed HERE.

The group have also prepared a working document which will be discussed, and which you can review in the meantime at the link below:

General Election Working Doc

Join us on Saturday, November 23rd for a public housing campaign strategy meeting!

Over the past two years, public housing has been one of the union's most important national campaigns. Incredible work has been done on this by branches throughout the country. At our recent Ard Fheis we voted to continue this campaign for another year, so it's important to take stock of where we’re at, share what we have learned and make plans for the future.

The meeting will take place in the offices of Comhlámh on Parliament Street in Dublin 2 from 11:00-15.30 on Saturday, November 23rd. Lunch will be provided and we can also cover travel public transport costs for CATU members coming from outside Dublin.

If you're looking for travel costs to be covered, you’ll need to let the organisers know in advance by filling out the registration form below or contacting [email protected] by Monday, November 18th

Registration Form - Public Housing Strategy Meeting

Sticking to the topic of public housing, the working group on the Public Housing Manifesto have produced a draft for review by membership. They are asking everyone to have a read, and add any relevant suggestions for edits or comments by the end of November. People can add suggestions into the document itself through comments, or can join the working group WhatsApp chat (both linked below).

Public Housing Manifesto - Draft
WhatsApp Group


Comments can be related to anything, from content and tone to general ideas. In particular, the working group are inviting members of the Derry and Belfast branches to contribute any comments/resources to work towards an island-wide manifesto.

CATU will have a bloc at the latest National Demonstration for Palestine this Saturday, November 9th. We’ll be assembling from 12:45 outside the Mandate offices from - just opposite the Gate Theatre in Dublin. Please bring along branch banners, signs etc. if you have them and let’s this as loud and large a demo as possible ahead of the election.

The union is looking to run a number of fundraisers in the near future - if you have experience or would be be interested in taking part in a fundraising planning group, please let me know.

On a semi-related note, and following the very successful launch of CATU merch at the Ard Fheis, we will soon be launching an online store where you’ll be able to order scarves, t-shirts and badges for delivery. If you have experience running a small online store and would be up for helping out with some pointers, please also get in touch! Grmá.

CATU Waterford have secured an excellent win.

Fellow member, Jane, had been sent an eviction notice and relocation order to be sent to Donegal with minimal notice - despite having lived, settled and built community in Waterford for several years.

Our Waterford branch applied pressure through organising a community action day alongside residents of the Direct Provision centre and members of the local area, as well as running phone and email pickets. These combined actions resulted in Jane being granted extended time on her eviction notice, and with this additional time she has managed to find more secure housing which will allow her to remain in Waterford while she finishes her degree.

Congrats to Jane, the branch and all involved in securing this outcome. It’s another example that collective action can and does get the goods ❤️

Over the past year, CATU Mountjoy-Dorset have halted evictions, won over €10,000 in damages for distressed tenants and €3,000 in withheld deposit monies. They’re now taking an evening to celebrate this wins and establish the next steps for the branch.

Tomorrow (Friday), join members for a Member Defence meeting at 18:30, followed by a social with music from Polyp, Naoise and Faro-P.

It’s happening at Juno, 58 Dorset Street Lower (D01 EP86) and all are welcome!

Do the wins ever stop? No they don’t!

CATU Belfast members Eamon & Raydean's landlord has returned their stolen £1250 double deposit! 🎉

At the end of their lease, Eamon & Raydean contacted the Tenancy Deposit Scheme to find that their deposit had not been held securely in the scheme for the majority of their tenancy. This is illegal in the North of Ireland.

A few weeks ago, the branch sent a letter to the landlord via email to demand the return of the deposit. He ignored us.

Last week, they delivered a new letter in person and we found out yesterday that Eamon and Raydean have been contacted informing them that they’ll be receiving the amount they demanded.

As the branch said themselves: “Collective action works. Direct action works. While landlords and their politician mates preside over a housing crisis and a system stacked to favour the already too powerful landlords, CATU is organising our communities to stand up and fight back.”✊

CATU Cork have been as busy as ever:

🚪Earlier this week, they supported UCC members in their first door knock of the university area, talking to local residents about their housing situation and logging rents, mould, damp and various other issues.

🎬 They held a successful screening of the wonderful Rent Strike documentary in Mayfield.

🏚️ They’ve been logging dereliction in Shandon/Blackpool and door-knocking the area. There are door-knocks coming up at the Lough, Blackpool/Shandon and Midelton - if you’d like to be involved drop [email protected] a line or keep an eye on the branch group chat!

CATU D7 West were out doorknocking in the Stoneybatter area earlier this week, and next up they’ll be hosting a branch meeting on Monday, November 18th in the delightful surrounds of Dalymount Park. Keep an eye in the branch chat for confirmation of start time - or if you’re not in the chat but would like to be, drop them an email at [email protected] 

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties have been hosting a series of legal observer trainings and the next one is coming up on November 18th. A couple of CATU reps have attended previous sessions and found them very informative - if you’d like to attend the next one, please drop me a line and I’ll put you in touch.

In Solidarity,

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