Sinéad Baker | Co-Editor-at-Large
A Union of Students in Ireland (USI) banner supporting a yes vote in the marriage equality referendum was hung today from the headquarters of the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) at Liberty Hall.
The banner was officially launched today by USI President, Laura Harmon, SIPTU’s National Campaigns and Equality Organiser, Ethel Buckley, and Ruairí McKiernan, founder of youth media organisation SpunOut. The banner is to hang until May 23rd, the day after the referendum.
Speaking at the launch, Harmon said: “The student vote is galvanized around this issue and we expect students to vote in high numbers on May 22nd. This referendum is about equality under our constitution and it’s about recognising all loving, committed relationships regardless of gender.” She further added: “USI will be turning its attention to ensuring that students turn out on 22 May to Vote Yes and will be undertaking a number of initiatives in this regard over the coming weeks.”
USI officially launched its “Students For Marriage Equality Campaign” in January. Since the beginning of the academic year, over 27,600 students have been registered to vote through student unions and LGBT societies in USI-affiliated institutions.
A partnership between SIPTU and USI was approved at USI national council in 2013. Features of this partnership include representation for student workers and support for various campaign initiatives.
In January SIPTU’s National Executive Committee called for its members to support a yes vote in the referendum. Commenting on the decision, SIPTU Campaigns and Equality Organiser, Ethel Buckley, said: “Equality is a core value for SIPTU. It’s vital that union members and activists across the country, including first time voters, get out and vote ‘Yes’ in the interest of equality.”
Speaking at today’s launch, Buckley said: “In teaming up with the USI to display a Vote Yes banner on Liberty Hall, SIPTU is playing its part in reminding young people to get out and vote.”
In September 2014, USI hung a banner from the SIPTU headquarters in support of their “Education Is” national campaign, which took place in the form of a march aiming to highlight the public good of education.
Photo by Tommy Clancy
