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

Preparing for the rally.

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Comments (13 of 13)

minor pedentary

by krossie - aging anarchist

Fri Aug 14, 2009 12:04

Great pictures Michael - minor spelling mistake - I think its Alan Mc Simóin of the WSM

Flags and Scabs

by Michael Gallagher

Tue Aug 11, 2009 23:13

It was pointed out by a number of speakers at the rally that a scab is a scab...no matter what nationality they are.

The unfortunate wording on the flag could have been better. Was it done deliberately or just an oversight?

If You Look Closely Elsewhere....

Tue Aug 11, 2009 16:54

...on other posts with my work, you will see that Sinn Féin posters are very visible in my essays and the odd photo of Sinn Féin TD's. Having said that, I'm not a member of any political party, but I am a socialist. I am definately not a publicist for any political party, but I will promote genuine socialists in my work when I can.

One thing I don't like though is party activists purposely pushing their posters and placards in front of my camera, a habit of members mainly from the SWP and Sinn Féin.

Your criticisms are pointless and juvenile and wasting people's time. Wouldn't you rather discuss the issues and problems of workers? I don't know why I bother even replying to this rubbish!

if you look close enough you can see the prejudice

by house arrest

Tue Aug 11, 2009 16:05

You don't have to look too close to see certain politicians and groups, who get more than a passing mention, others are almost invisible in this report. But you'll get abused if you point out bias here, and not in the (evil) corporate media. Them's the rules

support ? WITH A CAPITAL S

by Larkins Ghost

Tue Aug 11, 2009 12:17

The purpose of the protest was to build Support for the striking dockers. After six weeks on strike, and with no end in sight , things are getting hard for the strikers and their families. Maybe people could concentrate on that fact and how support can be best built up, and how we can win this as soon as possible.

Looking back on the various threads on the Port workers campaign , this is the first negative , sectarian or party political comments I have found. A broad variety of activists, including some from political partys have worked together to build this support campaign. If people want to have a "our partys better than yours" pissing contest they should find somewhere else to do it, not here.

A bigger "bias" to occupy your (too much) free time Garret might be why the mainstream media is barely mentioning what is going on with this dispute.

If you look close enough....

Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:36

...their are Sinn Féin placards on view and he is mentioned in the introduction.

Bias much?

by Garret

Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:16

Woould it would kill you to show a picture of O'Snodaigh or a Sinn Fein placard?

Coverage plus contacts for Dockers

Tue Aug 11, 2009 10:17

supportportworkers at dublin dot ie

For information, and mailing list

supportportworkers@dublin.ie

Link to coverage in todays Irish Times.

Mailing list?