100,000 protest at economy in ruin

THE talk was about fear of lost jobs, of decimated pension funds and of unmanageable mortgages but it was clear from the weekend’s massive workers’ demonstration that the real fear among the trade unions was of a divided membership.

Much of the preparation and many of the placards printed for Saturday’s protest had focused on the public sector pension levy but it warranted only one brief mention in the rousing speeches of the union leaders who were keen to promote unity above all else among those split between state and private sector pay rolls.

Gardaí estimate the protesters numbered between 100,000 and 120,000.