Irish Ferries demonstration

Issued : Tuesday 13 December, 2005

Over 100,000 people took part in Friday's demonstrations around the country in support of Irish Ferries workers. In Dublin the march assembled in Parnell Square. When the front of the demonstration had reached Merrion Square there were protestors still at the Assembly point several miles away. Across the country in Cork, Waterford, Belfast, Sligo, Limerick, Athlone, Tralee, Galway and Sligo large demonstrations took place.

Several hundred members of the Labour Party and Labour Youth marched as a block in addition to the large number of Labour members marching with their union banners. The march showed the strength of the Labour Movement when mobilised.

The huge numbers taking part gave the government a bloody nose and shows Irish Ferries Management and Fianna Fáil that workers are willing to fight back against their attacks on basic pay and conditions.