Socialist Alternative

SPEAKER: Joe Higgins of the Irish Socialist Party, longtime member of the Irish Parliament (1997-2007), and a champion of workers and the unemployed.

About Joe Higgins:
Joe Higgins is a widely respected fighter for workers and the unemployed in Ireland. He served in the Irish Parliament from 1997-2007, where he was a leading opponent of the anti-worker, pro-big business policies of the Irish government. The Sunday Business Post labeled him the “best parliamentary performer” in all of Ireland for his witty speeches. He recently won election to the European Parliament as the Socialist Party’s candidate in Dublin, defeating the candidate of Fianna Fáil, the governing party in Ireland for the last twelve years.

In 2005, Joe Higgins helped expose the horrific abuse of Turkish migrant workers by GAMA Construction, which was forcing workers to slave for over 80 hours a week while paying them just 2 euros/hour (less than 1/6th of the minimum wage in the Irish construction industry). He spent 30 days in jail in 2003 for participating in successful civil disobedience against attempts by the Irish government to impose a “bin tax” on garbage collection. The bin tax struggle was mainly against the attempt to privatize public services, an attempt to further dismantle the remaining social welfare programs in Ireland.

Recently, Joe played a crucial role in the defeat of the Lisbon Treaty (the renamed European constitution) by Irish voters, which would have deepened the “race to the bottom” throughout Europe and led to further privatizations, attacks on social services, and increased militarization. In response to those who attempted to portray his campaign as “anti-Europe,” Higgins said, “We stand for the greatest links and friendship and solidarity between working people throughout the European Union. That is our alternative to a Europe dominated by the big corporate elites, by the armaments merchants, by the financial institutions.”

During his tenure in Parliament, Joe was such a thorn in the side of the Irish establishment that former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern referred to him as “failed person” with a “failed ideology.”  Yet more than anyone else, Joe exposed and warned of the crisis that the policies and greed of the Irish ruling class would lead to. The economic crisis has proven that Joe and the Socialist Party were right, and the only “failed ideology” is that of capitalism.

While other politicians live lavish lifestyles, Joe is known as “the best fighter money can’t buy.”  He lives on the average wage of an Irish worker, donating the rest of his salary to activist groups. Joe went to college at St. Mary’s College in Minnesota from 1969-1971, where he became politically active during the protests against the Vietnam War.

LINKS TO VIDEOS AND ARTICLES ABOUT JOE HIGGINS:
Joe Higgins’ Website
VIDEO: Joe Higgins, The Best Fighter Money Can’t Buy, Elected to European Parliament
VIDEO: Joe Higgins’ First Speech to the European Parliament
Profile of Joe Higgins from Ireland’s Sunday Business Post
“Last Man Standing” – profile of Joe Higgins by Village Magazine
Joe’s Record
More Than Just an Average Joe
Money Can’t Buy Love – or Joe Either
Lisbon Treaty: Irish No Vote Hits EU Rulers
VIDEO: The GAMA Strike: A Victory for All Workers (featuring Joe Higgins)
Joe Higgins Debates Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern After Ahern Says He’s a Socialist