Photo Essay: Dublin Dockers

international | worker & community struggles and protests | news report

Monday August 10, 2009 23:24

by Michael Gallagher - Photojournalist

libertypics at yahoo dot ie

Workers and Communities Show Their Support for Dublin Dockers on Strike

A large crowd of 200-300, made up mainly of families and workers from North and South city dockland communities, showed their support for the sriking dockers today in Dublin.
Marching from the East Wall/North Wall and Ringsend/Irishtown, the meeting point for the supporters was the Point Depot Bridge from where they marched united to the gates of the Marine Terminal Limited.

On the picketline, 7am.

In a lively and positive rally, (with Luke Kelly keeping the spirits high in the background) the marchers took control of the roundabout at the plant gates, with the result that all traffic was halted as they shouted the catchcry of workers fighting back, "THE WORKERS UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED!"

From John Walsh (the strikers SIPTU rep), Cllr. Matty Waine, (Socialist Party), Aonghus O'Snodaigh TD, (Sinn Féin), Cllr. Richard Boyd Barrett, (Socialist Workers Party ), Alan Mc Simmáonn, (Workers Solidarity Movement) and a UNITE trade union official, all spoke along the same theme, that the strikers will not back down, this fight must be taken to another level by the leadership in the trade unions, while also calling for more support from the public in general. Cheers of agreement where unanimous from the marchers and the strikers.

Referring to the Thomas Cook workers and the striking dockers disputes Matty Waine reminded everyone, "It should be noted, that those two disputes have done more for trade union and workers rights than the twenty two years of 'Social Parnership' by the trade union leaders".

In his address to the rally, Richard Boyd Barrett said, "...we are all organisors...", pleading with the attendence to build support for the next solidarity rally, which is vitally important to keep up the postive momentum.

This needs to be done not just for the MTL workers, but for all workers who are facing the threat of jobs losses and wage cuts in this onslaught from the bosses.

Workers issues etc slideshows, blogs and more: http://www.myspace.com/libertypix