A century on, another lockout

One hundred years ago, employers in Dublin engaged in a lockout of 20,000 workers.

All these workers wanted was a decent wage, decent working conditions and to be treated with dignity and respect. They were led by two brave men — James Connolly and Jim Larkin. The employers not only refused to recognise them but also refused to negotiate or even speak to them and to add insult to injury put locks on their place of employment.

Even though the workers lost the battle, in the long term they won the war: as today we have workers’ rights, better working conditions, and are treated with dignity and respect.