On November 6th 2009 The Irish Congress of Trade Unions marched from Parnell Square to Merrion Square protesting against the Irish Government’s plans to cut €4bn from the national budget.
I was there covering the event
Removing their hats and gloves, Tony, Harvey and Pat are sitting together on a pew in the lobby of the Hugh Lane Gallery waiting for Jimmy. They havn’t come for the Francis Bacon Exhibition but for the Irish Congress of Trade Union’s “Get Up Stand Up” demonstration. They are part of the Communications Workers Union. “We are the CWU Brass Band, we’re going to kick things off at 2 o’clock” says Tony.
With only 15 minutes to go they file outside into the bitter cold, on the other side of the room, security guard, Jurgida Savickaite, watches her CCTV screen. “If I could I would join them, but I’ll be there on the 24th” she says as she watches the band leave. Pointing to the CCTV screen she has a birds-eye view of Parnell Square North looking down onto Fredrick Street. The crowd has multiplied from a hand full of quiet Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) members ten minutes before to a bustling mass of police and demonstrators stretching from one end of the square to the other.
Leaving the gallery the CWU Band are collecting their instruments from the boot of Tony’s car on the other side of the road. It is 2 o’clock and, a little behind schedule, they are still getting ready. “We’re just doing a sound check” one SIPTU steward shouts to the band “then we can get started”. The demonstrators are already in lined up, the TUI are in front in blue with SIPTU behind sporting green placards followed by the red of Labour and the orange of the Psychiatric Nurses Association.
SIPTU stewards are handing out tee-shirts, “Five for a Pou-and” one TUI woman shouts in a mock Dublin accent to the laughter, he colleagues laugh. Balloons tumbleweed down the street in the light breeze as the bright flags and placards are held high by the demonstrators. It looks more like a St Patricks Day parade then a protest against €4bn being cut from the public sector budget.
At a quarter past two the band start-up to a mute applause.
Ten minutes later the crowd quieten, and slowly, the TUI formation start to move, the SIPTU group followed.
Spirits are high but the protesters have no doubt why they are here, “I’m here because of Nama, it is immoral on every level” says one teacher, “and I tell you this, I don’t blame the Greens for staying in government ‘cos they’ll never see the inside of government buildings again.”
As the protest rounds on O’Connell Street the thoroughfare is lined with tourists and supporters. Spectators fight for position to take photographs as parents hold children high to see the passing parade.
At the top of O’Connell Street excited tourists climb onto the O’Connell Monument to take photographs as the friendly TUI banter continued. Just ahead the Communication Workers Union lead the way.
“Communication Workers Union are very quiet for a union that communicates” shouts Rhonda Douglas, a SIPTU member on O’Connell Bridge. How many people are here? 100,000 she claims, not to mention the people marching around the country. “I still can’t hear yez” she shouts, picking up her megaphone again. The demonstration is only halfway through; it’s going to take a further 40 minutes to clear O’Connell Street she adds.
Passing down D’Olier and Nassau Street office workers peer from their second and third story windows pointing and smiling at the passing demonstrators. “Wanna quote?” shouts one man as he passes, “Where the f**k are the private sector?”
As the demonstration turns onto Merrion Square Government Buildings are flanked with Gardai. Just behind them on Upper Merrion Square can be seen three riot vans.
Mounted Gardai mark the entrance to the Dáil. “I’m here to protect my pension” says Dermot Nolan a retired Woodwork teacher from Dundrum College, “and also my health card” he adds as several speakers took to the stage at the bottom of the street.
As the crowd listens to the Congress Leader’s debate the difficulties the country is facing a few TUI members begin to disperse. Tired and exhausted as they left they dispose of their now unneeded placards and flags in an empty skip outside government buildings.