Ireland shows the way to resist the recession

Workers from the Waterford Crystal factory occupation led a 120,000 strong march in Dublin against the Irish government last Saturday (Pic: Paula Geraghty)

Simon Basketter reports in the Socialist Worker:

Anger at the Irish government's response to the recession erupted onto the streets of Dublin last Saturday.

In the biggest demonstration in the country for decades, more than 120,000 people marched over the Irish government's handling of the economic crisis.

Over 300 workers from the ongoing occupation at Waterford Crystal led the march alongside sacked workers from SR Technics, an aviation technology firm at Dublin airport.

Public and private sector workers marched together. Farmers, builders and students all took to the streets.

One indication of the scale of the growing crisis in Irish society was the group of police officers who joined the protest.

Even the army's "union" said they would refuse to be used in any strike-breaking.

The size of the march meant it set off earlier than planned. The entire route was filled with workers. Thousands lined the streets to cheer the protesters.

Elite

The demonstrators marched past the Dail (the Irish parliament) for a rally, where the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) general secretary David Begg accused a wealthy elite of "economic treason" for destroying the country's international reputation.

Begg said, "There is fear about how to keep body and soul together. There is anger because everybody knows that it is not our fault that a business elite has destroyed our economy and has as yet to be made accountable for it."

The original focus of the protest was the government's attack on public sector workers. It had introduced a "pension levy" – in reality a wage cut.

But the protest quickly became a national expression of anger against the government and the banks.

Placards read "Down with cosy cartels", "Ireland Inc is bankrupt and corrupt" and "Why no pay cuts for corporate swindlers?"

Many joining the demonstration spoke of what the recession and the government attacks mean for them.

"This isn't a pension levy – it's a pay cut," explained Dennis Walsh, a civil service clerical officer. "I will lose a significant portion of my salary into the dark hole of a banker's pocket."

Sean Whelan, a worker with Dublin council, said, "I'm on a gross wage of 650 euro a week, and by the time all my reductions are taken out I take home 106 euro a week.

"Now with the government's levy and the credit card I have to pay off, I will be left with 6.50 euro a week to live on – chicken feed."

Damien Buggy, a construction worker, said that people had finally found their voice of protest:

"I'm here to let the government know that people are hurting. I'm here to protest the unfairness of it all. I haven't lost my job but nobody is secure anymore. I would like to see this government fall."

The government has introduced austerity measures at the same time as bailing out banks that have been embroiled in a series of scandals. This has enraged people.

And the inspiring factory occupation of the Waterford Crystal workers has shown people that they can fight back against the recession.

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