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Dockers Hit Day 90 out on strike![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Report from Striking dockers support March - 2nd Oct. A crowd of about 100 people gathered to march down towards the gate of Marine Terminals Ltd. In anticipation of the march by the strikers and their supporters, the company had closed the gates. The march happened on the same day that polls were open for the Lisbon treaty, and a number of speakers at the gate made the point that this was the type of Europe we were getting thanks to Lisbon. The labour laws of the land have been flagrantly flouted by MTL – effectively causing this lock out and not really engaging in the industrial relations process in any meaningful way. Yet, at the same time the largest Union in the Country – SIPTU – had backed the Lisbon treaty with a statement saying that a yes “would not make matters worse overall. Indeed, it has the potential to improve them,". I am, of course, aware that the ultimate solution is the ownership and control of the means of life by the whole of the people; but we are not at that stage of development as yet. I am of course aware that we still have not reached this stage of development – but the least me might do as trade unionists is stand up and fight for the rights of the men and women who've been out for the last 3 months. |
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Jump To Comment: 1Although small, it was good to see a cross-section of political group support for this, including Éirigí, SF, SWP and WSM. However, a greater mobilisation from the left should have been in evidence, despite inopportune time of the march and the location of the destination.
A small personal appeal: Can we please do without the US Marines-type chanting of "I don't know, but I've been told, MTL have got no soul"? Many of us find this format offensive on at least two levels and the words add nothing really to the necessary consciousness.
Of course the speakers were right to criticise SIPTU for inadequately supporting the dispute. However, we will never be able to guarantee good trade union mobilisation and solidarity actions until we build up a non-sectarian activist network at ground level. Only then will we be able to make Ireland a scab-free zone.