Images: Dublin ETUC European wide day of action against cuts

dublin | worker & community struggles and protests | news report

Wednesday September 29, 2010 22:18

by Paula Geraghty

mspgeraghty at yahoo dot ie

Hundreds protested at the Dail today against the government after it's return from its summerbreak.
The day got off to an eventful start with a cement truck strategically driving into the front gates of the Dail leaving only scratch marks on the paint. Unlike previous protests at Anglo irish banks, there were no barricades with a much thinner blue line.

Des Bonass, Unite, at INOU Dole queue

Communities and trade unions gathered as part of the ETUC, European Trade Union Congress's European wide day of action. Congress bolted from Anglo Irish Bank a half hour earlier than advertised and wound up their protest by 1.10pm, leaving several hundred who arrived after 1pm to continue the protest outside Buswells led by Joe Higgins. Malachy Steenson, Workers Party, Alan MacSimoin WSM, Terry Kelleher, Public Servant, Ann Conway, TUI activist, and Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit, addressed the crowds. There was some heckling here too, demanding more female speakers!

Congress looked fearful as the audible heckling calling for a general strike grew louder and as TV cameras focussed on a pensioner complaining loudly about the trade union movements inactivity.

Meanwhile, there was a general strike in Spain, Brussels' airport was closed with 100,000 taking to the streets there.
More details at http://www.etuc.org/

Images from Belfast by Kevin Cooper can be seen on Facebook here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=229496&id=7392027...ef=mf
images © Paula Geraghty

Canals communities protest at slashing of the community sector

Members of save 46A bus campaign meeting at Anglo Irish Bank

0 of Congress's unemployment figure

455,000- the number of unemployed in Ireland

Joe Higgins Socialist Party MEP speaking at the rally at the Dáil

Cllr. Richard Boyd Barrett People Before Profit Alliance

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Comments (3 of 3)

Irish people are not angry enough yet.

by Tina - just me self

Thu Sep 30, 2010 21:16

If I was Brian Cowan or any of the other dossers in the Dail I would not be too worried about the anger of the Irish people. You only have to look at the above pictures to see that the protest was just another day out for these people, they look to happy. Similar protests happened before the summer recess were people turned up at the Dial wearing designer sun glasses and sporting a lovely smile as they cheerfully chatted and sang silly songs slagging the Government. The numbers that protested yesterday was extremely disappointing compared to our European neighbours. The Irish Government has nothing to worry about yet as regards civil disobedience. Irish workers seem to just roll over and take it on the chin. Lots of complaining and moaning. I wonder how many of these protesters voted YES for the Lisbon Treaty. These job loses and dismantling of workers rights was foretold before the Lisbon Treaty was passed. Unlike most of our European neighbours who did not have a choice on Lisbon, we in Ireland did. The predicament we now find our selves in was forecast and spelt out if we passed the Treaty. When it come to mass protest in Ireland the Government have nothing to worry about. Most people seem to think that an election will turn things around, not a hope. It will just bring in a new bunch of Gombeen men who will milk what ever is left. An election in Ireland is not solution, its just the same circus with different clowns. I would like to propose that a new clown movement start up. For the next election we should stand clowns in protest at the Gombeen destruction of this country.

VOTE Boozo No 1

Great!

by pat c

Wed Sep 29, 2010 22:34

Great report and photo essay Paula. The ICTU Misleadership did everything they could to sabotage this demo.

More images

Wed Sep 29, 2010 22:28