Dividing workers ‘a ploy’ by government

DIVIDING public and private sector workers is merely a Government-inspired attempt to weaken the labour movement, was the key message from trade union leaders to tens of thousands partaking in ICTU’s National Day of Protest yesterday.

With up to 50,000 public and private sector workers taking to the streets of Dublin, and an estimated 60,000 attending ICTU organised rallies in other towns and cities, the trade unions last night believed a strong signal had been sent to Taoiseach Brain Cowen that their concerns must be addressed.

In possibly the opening shot of a winter of industrial discontent ICTU vice president Patricia King was direct when addressing marchers in Dublin’s Merrion square.