Irish Working Class Take Action

national | worker & community struggles and protests | other press Sunday March 01, 2009 00:25 by Anne Mc Shane annegmcshane at eircom dot net

defiant trade unionists take to the streets

The recent change in Irish society from `get rich quick' to working class struggle has been unprecedented. The economy is sinking fast and the predictions are that things can only get worse. European Commission president José Manuel Barroso has made the point that Ireland would be in the same situation as Iceland if it were not in the euro zone. But maybe even this cannot save the country from plunging into bankruptcy, as banks and businesses collapse and unemployment soars.

There is a great deal of fear within the working class, but there is also a new defiance and militancy. Fresh cuts in education, health and benefit provision are announced daily and there are many thousands facing the repossession of their homes. It is obvious for all to see that capitalism has completely and utterly failed.

The demonstration on February 21 was the largest in 30 years. Over 120,000 union members and others marched together in a protest that sent out a clear message of opposition to the government. Other marches were held across the country and protests are continuing as I write - the Garda Representative Association came out in force against the pension levy along with other workers on February 25. Strike action among public sector workers was due to begin on February 26, although bus workers have suspended an indefinite strike called for this weekend. Significantly the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has announced a one-day national strike on March 30.