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Nimrod Sejake & Fergus Cassidy

Irish workers strike to support boycott of SA goods

(June 1984)


From Inqaba ya Basebenzi, No. 14, June–August 1984, p. 20.
Transcribed by Iain Dalton.
Marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for the Encyclopaedia of Trotskyism On-Line (ETOL).



Dear comrade,

The Dunnes Stores empire in Ireland is recognised as having anti-worker and anti-union bosses. On July 19, a worker in the Henry Street store in Dublin was indefinitely suspended for refusing to handle South African goods.

The majority of union members – a total of 11 – then began an official strike. It is the policy of their union, the Irish Distributive and Administrative trade union, to boycott South African goods.

The strikers are young workers and 10 of them are women.

So far they have been intimidated and harassed by scabs and on at least two occasions vans have been driven at them. Indeed management have resorted to bringing in food in trucks used for dumping rubbish!

Public support is very good and business is down 56%. Over IRĀ£80 (R128.00) a day is collected in buckets at the entrances.

The workers are aware of the conditions faced by their class brothers and sisters in South Africa. They are absolutely determined that their bosses will be taught not to stock South African goods.

A number of fellow union members in other stores are refusing to handle the goods and the bosses are afraid to do anything.

The strikers hope that workers in South Africa will learn of their struggle.

They are determined to show their solidarity in the face of their own vicious bosses.

Messages of support can be sent to: Karen Gearon (shop-steward), c/o I.D.A.T.U., 9, Cavendish Row, Dublin 1, Ireland.

 

Fraternally,
Nimrod Sejake (Irish Labour Party)
Fergus Cassidy (Irish Labour Youth)


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