New regional secretary of Unite: Susan Fitzgerald A workers’ leader for a new era of struggle

SUSAN FITZGERALD, a longstanding member of the Socialist Party has been selected as the new Regional Secretary of Unite the Union in Ireland. Unite the Union has over a million members across Britain and Ireland. Susan brings tremendous experience, knowledge and skills of organising both North and South to this role.

As a committed socialist, Susan’s politics are based on a confidence in the abilities of working-class and young people to change society. Susan believes it is essential to bring workers together in united struggles for better pay and conditions, but also in campaigns in wider society to fight for our health and education services as well as against cuts in all the essential services that working-class communities North and South desperately need. Susan understands the vital role that the trade union movement plays in uniting workingclass people across the sectarian divide.

Susan is the first woman to hold this post and as a socialist feminist and supporter of ROSA will bring her tenacity to fight to end all forms of sexism, transphobia, racism and any other form of oppression, and for LGBTQIA+ rights both inside workplaces and in society generally.

A peerless record

Susan has an important public profile as a leader of workers, for example during the Harland & Wolff occupation which saved the shipyard, or the campaign by former Regina Coeli workers for homeless services. Un - doubtedly Susan will use her position to try to further assist workers in their struggles and campaigns, to build solidarity and challenge the conditions that the capitalist market imposes, the antics of the bosses and the attacks of the political establishment North and South.

Overall the trade union movement in Ireland, and internationally needs to