Dunnes strikers continue fight against apartheid
ON MARCH 26, Ruairi Quinn, minister for labour in the 26 Counties, announced the official phasing out of the importation of South
African fruit and vegetables into Ireland. In making this announcement, Quinn commented that the government was recognizing the support for the Dunnes strikers amongst the general Irish public.
IRELAND BRIAN DAVITT
The strike against apartheid, which began at the Dunnes Stores in Dublin in July 1984 (see IV, No. 83, October 9, 1985), has been carried on with great courage by 11 young workers for 21 months now. Public support for the strikers reached its peak last November when over 3,000 turned out on a wet day in Dublin at a rally to support the strikers and show solidarity with the strikers.
The first major initiative in the dispute occurred after this march, when the Dublin government announced in December that it would ban South African fruit and vegetables from the 26 Counties if it could prove that prison labour was being used to pick these products.
This ban was to be introduced by April 1, 1986, if sufficient evidence could be found. (The chief sources for the Dublin government were the International Labour Organization and the Swedish government.)
The strikers condemned this half-hearted approach, pointing out that the apartheid regime and its basic tenets are reason enough for a ban on South African goods. Union sells out
The Irish Distributive and Administrative Trades Union (IDATU), the strikers' union, grasped the government's offer with both hands. executive agreed to lift the pickets at Dunnes' Stores "as a gesture of good will," pending a government decision on the ban.
This decision was taken against the will of all the strikers who had been picketing for 18 months until then.
IDATU informed the strikers that they must follow its decision or 10 lose the support of the union. Under protest, the strikers lifted the picket on December 24, 1985. Adding to the bitterness felt by the strikers, they were instructed by IDATU to: a) disband their support group; b) not to speak to the press; c) not to public meetings without prior approval from the union execu-
The lifting of the picket confused the Dublin shopping public. Was the strike over? No. Where are the strikers? At home.
IDATU's decision took the pressure off the government, demoralized the strikers by isolating them from their union and their supporters and removed the strike from the public eye. The net effect was to end the strike for Dunne by leaving the strikers in the cold.
late January, the strikers' support group had reformed under another name. Postering, leafletting and shop-ins took place throughout February, and the issue of sanctions against South Africa was raised once more. These actions, with their direct references to the strikers, plus the recurring images of state violence against Blacks in South Africa helped remind people of the Dunnes' Stores strike. IDATU gave its blessing to the strikers' of Dail Eireann (the Irish parliament) that began in March.
On March 26, after a series public statements by TDs (teachtai Dala, members of parliament) and senators, Ruairi Quinn announced limited sanctions against South Africa.
A ban on the importation of South African fruit and vegetables is being phased in to take effect from October 1, 1986. The delay, the minister for labour claims, is to allow suppliers enough time to find alternative supplies. There are loopholes even in this
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Dunnes striker Mary Manning (DR) limited concession. Suppliers who have purchased South African fruit for more than three years may continue to do so under a "strict" licensing system!
For the strikers, the "solution" is no solution. Dunne claims that their jobs await them, but for as long as he sells South African goods they will not return. So, from now until October they will continue to struggle but without any focus for their incredible energies. For this partial victory, it is they who must take all the credit.
Grudgingly the Dublin government has recognized their struggle, but in doing so it insults that cause with a limited and cautious action The Dublin Government earlier insult the strikers by abstaining on a m motion declared the South Afte regime to be "degrading." the United States voted against
International Viewpoint 19 May 198
CHINA workers' and revolutionary movements. For the first time - if one leaves aside the special case of the
Communist League of Yugoslavia -