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The Irish Region of Unite the Union is publishing this magazine to mark the centenary of the 1913 Dublin Lockout © RTÉ Stills Library Picture: Baton charge by the Dublin Metropolitan Police during the 1913 Dublin Lockout 5895-Irish_PolConf_Summer13_Final:Layout 1 19/06/2013 09:13 Page 2

Page 2 June 2013 Larkininism and internationalism

This is an edited version of a lecture delivered by Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey to a meeting organised by Unite with the support of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions and Dublin Community Television. The event took place in Dublin on May 29th 2013

A crowd awaits the arrival of the first food ship from England, 28 September 1913 (Irish Life magazine).

Contents

Page2: Len McCluskey – Larkinismandinternationalism Page7: Jimmy Kelly – 1913–2013:Forgingalliancesofthediscontented Page9: Theresa Moriarty – Womenattheheartofthestruggle Page11: Padraig Yeates – AveryBritishstrike 5895-Irish_PolConf_Summer13_Final:Layout 1 19/06/2013 09:13 Page 3

June 2013 Page 3

It is a privilege for me to have this opportunity workers,andgovernmentsunableorunwillingto IamproudthatUniteisleadingbyexample.Weare to speak about a man – from my own city – bringaboutthereformpeoplesodesperatelyneed. committedtobuildinganewsenseofoptimismfor who I consider a personal hero. ourmovement,whetherthatisathomethroughour Acrosstheworld,multilateralinstitutionsandthe communitymembershipbringingtheunemployed Iwanttotouchonanumberofthemesrelatingto agreementsthatemanatefromthemarelittle intothetradeunionfamilytohelpleadourcampaigns Larkinismandourunderstandingofinternationalism. morethanafig-leaf–perhapsconcealingsomeof foranewsettlementfromgovernment;or theembarrassmentofworldleaders,butdoing internationallywherewehaveestablishedthefirst Iintendtostartbysettingthescene–touchingon nothingtorectifythestructuralinadequaciesof genuinelyglobaltradeunion,WorkersUniting,with internationalsocialismandtheglobalcapitalistclassas today’scapitalistclass. ourcomradesintheUnitedSteelworkers. itstandstoday. Thesamecapitalistclassthathas–forthebestpartof Aglobaltradeunionwithsharedobjectives,learning ThenIwilllookbackontheGreatLockoutinthe ourlifetime–createdtheglobalinstitutionsthrough fromourdistinctexperiences. contextofhowitplayedoutnationallyand whichwealthismanipulated,therichallowedtogrow internationally,examiningtheglobalisationofitsday richer,whilstevergreaterproportionsoftheworld’s Boththeseexamples(extendingtradeunion whichtookplaceinanageofempires-particularlythe populationareleftstarvingonthescrapheap. membershipandbuildingglobalalliances)arerooted Britishempire. inLarkinism. Theinternationalismofthecapitalistclassissimplyto Andthen–withoutwantingtolecturetheIrishon presideoveraracetothebottomforworkersall Themostimportantthingwecandoisempowerour theirlabourLeaderJimLarkin–Iwanttooutlinehis overtheglobe. members–asthecoreelementoftheunion roleandtheconceptofLarkinism,includingthe movement–sothattheyarenotpassiveinourcause, phenomenademonstratedbythoseindividualsloosely Theirneo-liberalagendamustbechallengedbyus– butinsteadareleadingourvisiontotransformsociety describedasLarkinites. thetradeunionmovement–globally,whilstatthe forthemselvesandfuturegenerations. sametimeactingonanationalbasistocontestfor That is what Jim Larkin stood for. IwanttofinishtonightbylookingatLarkin’sown statepowerandorganiseworkersinourhome objectivesandhowtheseimpactedinternationallyon territories.Wemustdothisbybeingopentonew Unionsmusttakeanactiveleadonthestreetsandin thelabourmovementduringhislifetime–andtoask kindsofalliances. communities. whatlessonswecanlearntoday. Byworkingwithcommunitygroups,NGOs,new Ourowndemocraticstructuresarekeytobuilding So, firstly, to consider our current setting. politicalprogressiveforcesandformingallianceswhich solidarity,establishingaccountabilityanddetermining Theglobalfinancialcrashof2008madeonething willfindtheirexpressionsonagloballevel. appropriatestrategies. abundantlyclear:capitalismsucceededinbecoming thesingledominantglobalmodelbywhichwealllive Thismeansthattoday’stradeunionscannot Theobjectivesthatwesetmustinvolveusina andwork. simplybeorgansthatnegotiateintheworkplace discussionwiththememberswheretheyset fortheirmembers(whilstthiswillalwaysremain theseobjectives–sotheyarenotdeterminedby Sincethecollapseofmanysocialistcountriesin ourprimaryfunction),buttheymustfightthe us,forthem. EasternEuropetheworldeconomyhas–decadeby restrictionsandfailedpoliciestoooftenmeted decade–becomemorefragmentedbetweenrichand outbygovernment. Theblunttruthhoweveristhis–thattherealstruggle poor,seengrowinginequalityandfewerchecksand ultimatelytakesplaceatanationalorevenalocallevel. balancesonitsfree-marketethos. Today’stradeunionmovementmustbeavehicle throughwhichwenotonlyaddressmember’s Yetthisdoesnotunderminetheimportanceof Thisdisparityisastrueforpeopleasitisforstates– bargainingdemandsbutalsoleadthefight–inthe internationalismforourmovementwhichisessential wideninginequality,wealthconcentratedatthetop,a politicalarena–foreverythingthataffectsworking toouroutlookifwearetotakeonglobal shrinkingpercentageofGDPgoingintothepocketsof people. capitalism.Letmeturntoyourhistory–orourshared Jim Larkin

JimLarkinwasbornonCombermereStreetin instrumentalrole,andwhichwouldserveas Toxteth,Liverpool,andasabarefootyoungster inspirationforhisconductinDublintwoyearslater. wouldwanderthesamestreetsintheheartofthe LiverpooldocklandswhereIspenttheformative 1911sawindustrialactioninLiverpoolonan yearsofmyworkinglife. unprecedentedscale,withupto100,000people attendingademonstrationinSheilPark,providing Indeed,Iamproudtosaythatmyhomecityof anessentialfoundationfortherecruitmentof Liverpoolwouldplayacrucialpartintheforging Liverpoolworkersintotheunionmovementand ofindomitablelinksbetweentheBritishlabour thecapturingofthecityforLabour. movement,theIrishlabourmovement,andthe broadercauseofinternationalworking-class ItisquitefittingthatJackHayes,acontemporary solidarity. ofLarkin’sandafellowIrishnationalist,wasthe firstLabourMPtositforaLiverpoolconstituency BoththeLabourpartyandthetradeunionshad afterhiselectionforEdgeHillin1923. initiallyfaceddifficultiesmakingprogressin Liverpool, Boththe1911TransportStrikeandthe1913 withspontaneousprotestsagainstslavewagesand DublinLockouttookplaceinthecontextof intolerablelivingconditionsfailingtotranslateinto massivelyincreasingmilitancyandworking-class recruitsforthelabourmovement. protestacrossBritainandIreland.

IthasbeensaidthatiftheGlasgowworkingmenof Followingatreblingofunionmembership thisperiodweregoodsocialistsbutlousyrioters; between1888and1910,intheperiod1910to Liverpoolworkingmenwerequitethereverse. 1914,membershipoftradeunionsrosebyover sixtypercent,from2.1millionto4.1million, Larkin addresses a crowd in Beresford Place from the Allofthisbegantochange,however,afterthe1911 whilemembershipofso-called‘newunions’ TransportStrike,inwhichLarkinplayedan increasedbyover300percent. window of Liberty Hall, 1913. 5895-Irish_PolConf_Summer13_Final:Layout 1 19/06/2013 09:13 Page 4

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Crucially,tradeunionismduringthistimewas highlightsnotonlythelinkbetweentheIrishand thesewereunofficial,organisedbyrankandfile reachingouttoworkerswhohad,untilthen, Britishworkingclassbuttherolethatmenlikehim againstthewishesofunionofficials–11.6million sufferedfromlackofunionrepresentation. andConnollyplayedasIrishrepublicans. dayswerelostinBritainthatyear.Thisturmoilfirst Thisperiodhasbeencharacterisedasthe‘Great hitIrelandinBelfast. Unrest’:from1910untiltheoutbreakofthewar, GilbertwasborninStockportnearManchesterand workingdayslostrosetotenmillionormore workedinthecottonmills.HewasinvolvedintheILP JimLarkinwassentBelfastbytheNationalUnion eachyear. andswornintotheIrishRepublicanbrotherhoodin ofDockLabourers,whereandhesetabout Manchesterin1913.Hefoughtinthe1916risingasa organisingworkers.Theemployers’resistancewas Strikesacrossthecountryfeaturedviciousand republican,amemberoftheITGWUandalabour savageagainsthiscampaigntoorganisedockersand disproportionateresponsesfromemployersandthe memberofDailEireann.Gilberthadanuncannyknack cartersinBelfast. Britishstate,withmasslockouts,victimisationand ofturningupattherighttimeandtherightplace. policebrutalitywidespread. HisactivitiesproducedasplitintheOrange HewasintheGPOin1916,hehelpedpersuadethe Order,astrikeintheRoyalUlsterConstabulary, Themilitancyofthisperiod,althoughsimilartothe republicansinFiannaFailtoenterthefreestate,and thedeploymentofthousandsofBritishtroopsto SyndicalistmovementsofEurope,wasinformedby whenLarkinandtheWorkersUnionofIrelandwere protectscabsandtheuseoftheonlycavalry classsolidarity. tryingtofindawaybackintothebroadtradeunion chargewithintheUnitedKingdomagainst movementitwashewhomadethepointoforder workerssincethePeterloomassacre.It’sno Frustratedwithgovernmenthostilitytowardssocial thathelpedLarkingainadmittancetotheDublin wonderBenTillett,inhisannualreporttohis reformandHomeRuleforIreland,manylabour counciloftradeunions. union,describedtheclasswarasthemostsavage leaders,shopstewardsandordinaryworkingmenand everseen. womenlostfaithinWestminsterpoliticsandinstead GilbertlefttheITGWUandjoinedtheTGWU;he soughttoexertchangefrombelow,withBenTillett wasdistrictsecretaryuntilthemid-1960s. Lookingbackatthesituation100yearsago,with denouncingParliamentas‘afarceandasham…the growinginternationaleconomictradeand richman’sDuma’. It’simportanttolookatthevastsweepof pressureonindustrialiststoimproveefficiency– globalisationinAmericaandEuropeandhowworkers therewasacounterbalancealongsidethiswiththe TheimpactofLarkinwasfeltthroughoutIrelandand werereactingtoitatthetime. risinginfluenceofsocialisteconomictheorywhich Britain.JackJones,oneofthegreatgeneral challengedthenotionthatwagesshouldbe secretariesofourpredecessorunionthe(A)TGWU, Inpracticallyeverycountryintheindustrialisedworld determinedbyprofitandlefttofindtheirown wasbornin1913(anothercentenarycelebrationfor before1914therewerestrikes,civilunrestand levelinthemarket. usinUnite)andheborethemiddlenameLarkin– populardisturbances. JamesLarkinJones. Thiswasaconflictbetweenoldandnewsocial ThesestrikessweptthroughRussiantextilesworkers, valueswhichwereanidealenvironmentfor Hisfatherwasinvolvedinthesolidarityactionwith andinGermanyengineeringemployerswereusing peoplelikeLarkin,Connolly,BenTillett,Keir Larkinduringthestrike.LikeLarkinandJackJones,I scablabourtodefeatstrikes. Hardieandoneofthemostfamousofthemall: workedontheLiverpooldocks-aplacewhichisno TomMann. strangertostruggleandaplacewhichinmany TheSwedishgovernmentintroducedlegislationto respectsisasIrishasanythingcanbeacrossthewater. imprisonpicketers. Thesepeopleembodiedsocialisttheoryand idealismblendedwiththepragmatismofgetting BecauseofunderdevelopmentinIrelandtheIrish InBritain,becauseoftheTaffValejudgement,unions theworkerstoactonwhattheworkers workingclasswasusedasacheapsourceoflabour, becameliableforemployerlossesinastrike. themselves,definedastheirneeds. anditistruetosaythatbeforeplaceslikeGalwayor manyotherpartsofIrelandhadaworkingclassthere GeneralstrikesoccurredinBelgium,theNetherlands, ThismaybesummedupbestinwhatJackKearney wasanIrishworkingclassinManchester,Birmingham Luxemburg,SwedenandItalybetween1902and describedasLarkin’ssocialism.‘Socialismdoesnot andmanyotherEnglishcities. 1904.ThefirstRussianrevolutiontookplacein1905. spreadbyitselfbecauseofitsowninnerlogicor consistency.Itspreadswhenthereissomethinginit ThereforemanyoftheleadersoftheIrishworking Intheyear1910Britainwastornasunderbyindustrial thatmakesitaresponsetotheneedsofthehour'. classcamefromanemigrantbackground. conflictwhichwaspartofareactionagainstthe globalisationofthattime. AndwhenLarkinlefttheNationalUnionofDock JamesConnollydescribedthesepeopleascoming LabourerstocreatetheIrishTransportand fromtheBritishschoolofsocialism-nameslikeJames TheBritishgovernmentestablishedacommissionon GeneralWorkers’Union–hedidsowiththe Connolly,JimLarkin,MichaelDavittandtheunsung industrialrelationsandwasincreasinglyconcerned intentofdevelopinghissyndicalistideas. heroGilbertLynch. aboutviolenceanddirectactioninstrikes. Hebelievedsocialismwouldonlyprevailwithtrade IwanttomentionGilbertLynchbecausehisstory In1913therewere1,459strikesinBritain;manyof unionsattheheartofthedemocraticsystem.

Inhabitants of just one of the many overcrowded slum tenements that dotted inner city Dublin c.1913. (‘Darkest Dublin Collection’, Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland). 5895-Irish_PolConf_Summer13_Final:Layout 1 19/06/2013 09:13 Page 5

June 2013 Page 5 The Dublin lockout

history,asit’sahistorythatcoursesthroughmyveins. ratefarlessthanhalfthanintheworkingclassareas. cancerous and the tubercular sick, and we must stay to TheDublinLockout.Morethan20,000workers bury our dead. But he caught them by the sleeve, the coat involvedinindustrialdispute. Poorhousingandillhealthwerenotoriousinthecity collar, and shouted, come forth, and fight with the son of ofover5,000tenementswithmorethanfivepeople Amos who has come to walk among the men and women Justasifanindividualsuffersalossofmemorythey livingineachroom.643ofthesewereone-room of Ireland, let the sick look after the sick, and the dead bury cannotfunctionproperly,weasamovementcannot tenementswithmorethaneightpeoplelivinginthem. the dead. Come ye out to fight those who maketh the progresswithoutunderstandingourownhistory. ephah small and the shekel great, come out that we might ThepoorinDublinwerehugelyvulnerabletokiller smite the winter house with the summer house til the house Toknowwhereyouaregoingyoumustknowfrom diseaseslikeTBandpneumonia.Intothistinderbox of ivory shall perish and the great house shall have an end whereyouhavecome. arrivedJimLarkinin1908. and Sean joined the union.”

Whilsttheeventsin1913areofcourseaproductof Hesetaboutorganisingworkerswithsomesuccess. theparticularcircumstancesofthattime,wemust Heorganiseddockers,carters,gasworkers-andhe learntheirlessonsallthesame.TheDublinLockout increasedwagesby15%to20%. Member’s Perspectives: andLarkin’sroleinitareespeciallyimportantforme. Colie Conneely Sometimesartistscancatchthemoodofasituation Almosttwentyyearsaftertherighttoorganise betterthanhistoriansoracademics. TheLockouttomewasthefirsttimeinIreland waslargelyacceptedbyemployersintherestof thatordinaryworkersstoodupenmasseto theUnitedKingdom,itproducedasavageconflict ItisthegreatcommunistplaywrightSeanO’Casey fightforbothbetterwagesandworking inDublin. whocatchestheimpactofLarkinontheDublin conditions.Theywerenotonlyfightingfor workersofthetime. themselves,butforthefutureofallworkers Ibelievethatthisislargelybecauseserviceworkers bothinIrelandandabroad.Theywerealso- whosufferedfromprecariousconditions–whowere IndeedDesmondGreaves,JamesConnolly’s moreimportantly,Ibelieve-fightingfora ineffecttreatedlikethrow-awaycommodities–were biographer,saidofSeanO’Caseythatoncethename politicalsystemthatrecognizedthemformore difficulttoorganiseandtheseworkerswouldhave Larkinwasmentionedinaconversationhiseyes thanjusthavingstrongbacks.Eventually,the formedthebulkoftheworkingclassinDublin. wouldlightupandthiswouldbefollowedbyastring LabourPartycameintobeingasadirectresult ofreminiscencesofLarkin. ofthelockout. Only20%ofworkersinDublinwereemployedin manufacturing.Thecityhadgrownrapidlyduetothe This is how O’Casey describes the impact of Fast-forwardtotoday,andagainworkersseem migrationofpeoplefromthelandtothecitycaused Larkin in Dublin: tobefightingforthefuture-butthistimeitis bythefamine. againstthepoliticalsystemandpartywhichthey “Throughout the streets he strode, shouting into every dark broughtaboutaftertheLockout.Nowthat Therewasastarkdividebetweenrichandpoorin and evil smelling hallway, the great day of change has come, Partyisthereenemy,yetclaimstobe Dublin,wherethedeath-ratewasworsethanin Circes swine have a better time than you have, come out representingthem.Cantherebeanother Calcutta.Theinfantmortalityratereached142 from your vomit, out into the sun. Larkin is calling you all? Lockoutforthefutureofthenextgenerations outof1000. And many were afraid, and hid themselves in corners. ofworkers,bothwhiteandbluecollar?Wewill Some ventured as far as the dreary and dusty doorways to justhavetowaitandsee. Butifwelookatthisfromaclassperspective,wefind peer out, and to say, Mr Larkin, please excuse us, for we thattheprofessionalclasseshadaninfantmortality have many things to do and to suffer we must care for the

Lessons and outcome of the lockout

Thebestanalysisoftheoutcomeofthelockoutisto wereapoorsubstituteforsolidarityactionandthe befoundinthewritingsofJamesConnolly,who blockingofDublinport. declarestheoutcomeasadrawnbattlewhereneither sidegottotalvictory. ItissummedupbyConnolly’sbiographerDesmond Greaves:“ThesplendidsolidaritymovementinBritain WilliamMartinMurphy–pressbaron,businessman wassidetrackedintoacampaigntosendfoodshipsto andpolitician–describedtheendofthestrikeasa Dublin.Asanadjuncttoasympatheticstrike completevictoryfortheemployers.Hewasless movementorboycottthiswouldhavebeen concernedaboutLarkinthanabouttheimpactof admirable”. Larkinismonthemind-setofworkingmen.Inthishe wasprobablycorrect. Itwastobeasubstituteandassuchtotallyinadequate. LarkinleftforAmericatoraisefundsfortheunionin Theotherremarkablefeatureofthedisputewasthat theaftermathofthestrike.Hewasalsosufferingfrom itcuredsomeofthemostintenserivalrybetween mentalandphysicalexhaustion. unionswhowereinfiercecompetitionbutwhohad transformedthemselvesthroughthedisputeto WhenAmericajoinedtheFirstWorldWar,Larkin expresssolidarity. wasintheforefrontofopposingit,arguingthatone shouldtakedirectactiontofrustratethewareffort. ThestrikealsohadanimpactinBritain,whereLarkin hadchallengedawholesectionoftheBritishworking Thisledtoasetofcircumstanceswherehewasto classtotakedirectindustrialactiontoisolatethe leadasplitintheAmericansocialistpartyandfounda Dublinemployer. newpartycalledtheCommunistLabourParty.

Thiswasincontrasttothestrategyputforwardby DuringtheredscareinAmericaLarkinwastriedfor thereformistleadership.Althoughthefoodshipsand criminalanarchyandsentencedtofivetotenyearsin Coal leaving Tedcastle, McCormick and Company’s depot moneyfromBritainwereofhugesignificanceand SingSingprison.FromAmericahestronglysupported certainlyhelpedthedisputeandtheworkers,they the1916rising. under armed escort. (Freeman’s Journal, 6 October 1913). 5895-Irish_PolConf_Summer13_Final:Layout 1 19/06/2013 09:13 Page 6

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Funeral of James Byrne, who died from injuries received in a police baton charge, passes along Eden Quay, Dublin.

Larkinism

LetmeturntowhatwenowcallLarkinsim.Larkinism Ifyouhadtosumupwhatkindoftradeunionism Wesawtheestablishmentofequalpaylegislation, isnotaneatandtidycreed.Thereisverylittleofit Larkinbelievedin,itwouldbefighting-backtrade theminimumwage,rightthroughtomaternityand writtendownasatheory. unionismrootedindemocraticparticipationof paternityrights–achievementsonlyobtained theworkersthemselveswhohebelievedwould throughprotestandorganisedlabour. InfacttheonlydocumentyoucanfindwhereLarkin transformandliberatethemselvesbytheirown wasforcedtoexpresshisideasinawrittenformisthe activity. Oneachoftheseissuesthetradeunionswereon affidavitthathesworeinhistrialinAmerica.Inthishe thesideoftheangels. affirmshisoppositiontosocialdemocracyandsocial ForLarkintheunionwasanalternativetothewage reformasanendinthemselves. trap,toexploitation.Hesawtheroleoftheunion Larkinprovedthattheabilityofgovernments, beyondwagenegotiation.Hesawtheunionusingits mineandmillowners,dockcompaniesandthe HisbeliefintheRussianrevolution,hisstrong assetsforthepleasureofhismembers,andsaid: land-owningelitetoexploitworkingpeople attachmenttoIrishnationalism,hisdeepconvictionas uncheckedwasonlypossiblebeforelabour apracticingcatholic–Insomewaystheseviewswere “Wehaveourownparkof162acres,ourown becameorganisedandunionised. contradictorybutwithinhispersonalityhewasableto vineryandgardens,andwebringourwomenand blendthemtogether.Larkinwas,aboveeverything mendownthereonSundayorSaturdayafternoon Ourgoalsandourdreamsmustbetore-assert else,amanofaction. andteachtheboysandgirlshowtocultivatethe thevaluesofthepastinawaythathelpsus garden,andshowthemthebeautyoflifeinitsfull capturethefuture. Hedidnotbelieveintalkingaboutinjustice–he expression…Wemakeourfamilylifefocus believedinorganisingtogetjustice.Henegotiated aroundtheunion.” Inthisstrugglewemusthavethecourageto significantwageincreasesforhismembersandhe challengethepowerfultoachievetheworldwe usedthesesuccessestorecruitnewmembers. ThisisawonderfulillustrationofLarkinism–and wantanddeserve: itisasrelevanttodayasitwasinhisownlifetime. Heorganisedthemostdowntrodden,deprivedand Aworldoffullemployment,aworldof neglectedworkers–noonewasexcludedfromthe Larkinisnotaplasticsaintbuthisenergy, participatorydemocracyinwhichworkers tradeunionfamily. commitmentandvisioncanbeusedtoinspireand opinionsandideasareusedtoenhancethequality rejuvenateayoungergenerationoftradeunionists oftheproductandservicetheydeliver. Thefundamentalcharacteristicofthetypeofworkers whomustfindtheirownwaysandmeansof thatLarkinorganisedinDublinwasthattheywere incorporatingLarkin'sideasandactionsinthefight Theroadtothisfutureisoneofstruggle.Inthe generallyserviceworkersinprecariousemployment. againstthechallengesoftoday’scapitalism. wordsofTony Woodley,thelastgeneral secretaryoftheTGWU: Blessedwithdazzlingoratoryandpresence,Larkin Sincetheirinceptiontradeunionshavebeena wastheveryantithesisofthenormaltradeunion forceforgoodinoursociety.MenlikeLarkin 'If we struggle we may not always win, but if style,bothinhisattitudeandhisphilosophy. showeduswhatwecouldachieveatourbest. we do not struggle we are sure to fail'.

HedistancedhimselffromtheunioninLiverpool InBritain,wesawtheabolitionofchildlabour,the ThisisinmyviewanexpressionofLarkinismfor ashesoughttoextendthebenefitsoforganised suffragettes’movementforwomen’svotes,the the21stcentury. labourbeyondtheusualworkerstoincludeall fightagainstfascism,thecreationofthewelfare unskilledlabour. stateandtheNationalHealthService. 5895-Irish_PolConf_Summer13_Final:Layout 1 19/06/2013 09:13 Page 7

June 2013 Page 7 1913-2013 Forging alliances of the discontented

By Jimmy Kelly InSeptember1913,JamesLarkintoldameetingin IrishCitizen–jointlyeditedbythefeministand Manchesterthathehadwhathetermeda“divine radicalFrancisSheehy-Skeffington–wasas mission…tomakemenandwomendiscontented”. outspokenastheIrishWorkereditedbyLarkin. Ironically,afewweekslaterDublin’sCatholic Below: William Martin Murphy’s news- Archbishop,WilliamWalsh,justifiedtheChurch’s Whilethephrase‘TheGreatUnrest’isgenerally papers remained unrepentant after the objectionstotheso-called‘Kiddies’Scheme’ usedtodenoteaperiodofheightenedindustrial events of ‘Bloody Sunday’ as this cartoon organisedbytheEnglishsocialistandfeministDora tensionsbetween1910and1914,itcouldwithequal MontefiorebysayingthatsendingchildrentoEngland validitybeusedtodescribethegrowingmomentum from the Saturday Herald, 6 September “willmakethemdiscontentedwiththepoorhomes forwomen’spoliticalandeconomicrights. 1913, shows. towhichtheywillreturnsoonerorlater”. Below right: Group photo in Inthatyearofdiscontent,theboundariesbetween Liverpool, 1913. Speakers at a meeting The notion of discontent was a subversive differentaspirations,andbetweenthecivilsociety concept in an age when many churchgoers groupspursuingthoseaspirations,wereblurred.10 organised by the Liverpool Trades Council regularly sang a hymn containing the lines: BeresfordPlace–Larkin’sLibertyHall–provided in support of Dublin workers: James The rich man in his castle meetingroomsforarangeoforganisations,whilean Larkin, James Connolly, Big Bill The poor man at his gate equallywiderangeofgroupsandindividuals He made them high and lowly supportedthestrikers.InSeptember,theIrish Haywood (IWW) and Mrs Bamber. He ordered their estate Women’sFranchiseLeaguetransferreditsweekly open-airmeetingsfromFosterPlace(besidethe In1913,Dublin’sworkingclass,organisedbyLarkin, BankofIreland)toBeresfordPlace(beside wasnolongercontenttostayatthegateoutside LibertyHall)todemonstratetheirsolidaritywith theiremployers’castle.Norwereotherelementsof thestrikers. civilsocietycontenttoremainintheirpre-ordained estate.Thewomen’ssuffragemovementwas Whileonecouldarguethatmanyofthose becomingincreasinglyvocalanditspublicationthe supportingthestrikersweremotivatedasmuch

Member’s Perspectives: Bridie McCreesh

TheLockoutturnedthewayforworkersall overtheworld..Itshowedpeoplewere preparedtofightforwhattheyshouldhave beenentitledto,andthatthebosseswerelosing theirdraconianholdonthem.

Thereshouldhavebeenmoremediacoverage ofthiscentenary. 5895-Irish_PolConf_Summer13_Final:Layout 1 19/06/2013 09:13 Page 8

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The distribution of food to the needy from a warehouse on the quays.

bynationalistsentimentasbyprogressivepolitics, tenements,vulnerabletodisease,infectionand thetacitalliancebetweenLarkin’sTransport malnutrition.Over20,000householdslivedinasingle Unionandthewomen’smovementhaditsroots room,andDublin’sdeathraterivalledthatofCalcutta. insomethingdifferent. AtthebeginningofSeptember1913theappalling housingconditionswerehighlightedbythecollapseof Expressingconcernforthewomenlockedoutby twotenementbuildingsinChurchStreetonDublin’s Jacobs,theIrishCitizenremindeditsreadersthat– northside,killingsevenpeopleandinjuringmanymore. unlikeJohnRedmondandtheHomeRulers–Larkin hadalwaysbeenasupporterofwomen’srights.As Unemploymentwashigh–attimesreaching20per Top: Official proclamation issued on TheresaMoriartywriteselsewhereinthismagazine, cent–and,duetothelackofamanufacturingbase, 29 August 1913 women(and,indeed,children)wereattheheartof therewasahighnumberofunskilledworkers,often Above: Cartoon by Will Dyson, The thestrugglein1913–notleastbecauseofthe employedonacasualbasis.Theaveragelabourer’s activitiesoftheIrishWomenWorkers’Union, wagewasunderapoundaweek–andwomencould Daily Herald (London), launchedin1911followingastrikebytheyoung expecttoearnabouthalfthat,oftenfromdomestic 9 December 1913. womeninJacob’sbiscuitfactory.LedbyLarkin’s work. sisterDelia,theIWWUwasaffiliatedtotheIrish Transport&GeneralWorkers’Union. Fastforwardtotoday,andalthoughmuchhas improvedmuchremainscontested.IntheRepublicof Member’s Perspectives: JamesLarkinrecognisedthattheworkingpeoplehe Ireland,therighttocollectivebargaininghasstillnot Finbar Ryan soughttoorganiseweredefinednotmerelybytheir beenlegislatedfor.Wagefloorshavebeenunder labourbutalsobytheotherattributeswhichgoto sustainedattacksincetheonsetoftheeconomic forgeidentityand,often,disadvantage.Heknew,for crisis,andgrowingnumbersofworkersinboththe Aspartofthecommemorationofthe1913 example,thatmerelyorganisingwomentoimprove RepublicandNorthernIrelandfindthemselvesin Lockout,Iwasbitterlydisappointedthatthere theirwagesandworkingconditionswouldbe precariousemployment,oftenworkingfromdayto wasnofloattocommemoratethiseventinthe insufficientwhiletheyremainedpolitically day,weektoweekormonthtomonthinamanner St.Patrick'sdayparade.Iamgivento disenfranchised. whichwouldhavebeenfamiliartothecasual understandthattheTradeUnionmovement labourersof1913.Socialprotectionandpublic wantedto,butitwasarguedbytheorganizers Itisalessonthatremainsvalidtoday,anditisa servicesinbothjurisdictionsareshrinking, thatthiswasnotinkeepingwiththeoverall lessonreflectedinUnite’scommitmentto disproportionatelyimpactingonthoseatthebottom ‘Gathering’theme. communityorganising;tocampaigningforequality; oftheincomepyramid.And,in2013,foodpovertyis andtoworkinginpartnershipwithothercivilsociety onceagainarealityformanyfamiliesonthisisland. Thisfactalonecouldputoffalotofpeoplefrom organisations,atlocal,nationalandinternational returningtoIrelandforavisit,mostofwhom level,toachieveamoreequalsociety. Inthefaceofsuchchallengesthetradeunion wouldbeeconomicmigrantsinthefirstplace. movementneedstoforgenewalliancestogive Workingpeoplearecurrentlybeingdrivento Discontent does not arise in a vacuum – expressiontothediscontentofworkingpeopleand thebrinkbyausteritywiththepromiseofmore in 1913 or 2013. developprogressivealternatives. tocome.Letusalljoinforanationalstrikethe daybeforeandthedayafterPatrick'sdaytoend In1913,Dublin’sunskilledworkers–thosewhom Jimmy Kelly is the Irish Regional Secretary of austerityandcommemoratethe1913Lockout. Larkinsoughttoorganise–livedinovercrowded Unite the Union 5895-Irish_PolConf_Summer13_Final:Layout 1 19/06/2013 09:13 Page 9

June 2013 Page 9 Women at the heart

of the struggle By Theresa Moriarty

Members of the Irish Women Workers’ Union (IWWU) who ‘suffered terms of imprisonment in the cause of labour’. Jim Larkin’s sister, Delia, who was secretary of the IWWU, is seated at the centre in a white blouse. (National Library of Ireland).

WhenFatherMichael Curran wroteintheopening barbarianmaniacs,yellingandpracticallythreatening intensivepicketing,ensuredwomenwereaconstant daysoftheDublinlockout,totheRomanCatholic thepoliceandtrammelthemwiththeirfists.Icould publicpresencethroughoutthelockout. ArchbishopofDublin,William Walsh,convalescing onlycompareittotheFrenchrevolution. inSwitzerland,hedescribedthedisorderinthecity SomeweremembersoftheIrishWomenWorkers’ wastheworkof‘thescumoftheslumsversusthe Withwomenonthestreets,fearlessly,publicly, Union,anewtradeunionorganisationandtheonly police’,pointingoutthat‘Thewomen,girlsandstreet challengingthecivilauthorities,hisworldturned oneinDublintorecruitwomenfactoryworkers.It arabsaretheworst’. upsidedown. hadbeenlaunchedbarelytwoyearsearlierasasister uniontotheIrishTransport&GeneralWorkers’ Hereachedforthemostextremecomparisonto Thecitystreetshadbeenincreasinglycontested Union,in1911followingastrikebytheyoungwomen describethenewforcesunleashedonDublin’s territoryduringindustrialconflictssince1911,but inJacob’sbiscuitfactory,. streets.Historysuppliedonlyonesimilarevent, young,working-classwomenworkerswerestill whenmonarchy,clergy,andaristocracyhadall relativenewcomerstosuchprotests.Theyhad ItwasatJacobswherethefirstlockoutofwomen beensweptaway. broadcasttheirpublicarrivalinsmallbutnoisystrikes workerstookplace,beforethefirstweekofthe from1911.Thescaleofthe1913mobilisation,with month’slockoutwasover.BeforeotherDublin Thewomenandeventheyounggirlsweresimply thousands-strongstreetmeetings,processionsand employersjoinedWilliam Martin Murphy to 5895-Irish_PolConf_Summer13_Final:Layout 1 19/06/2013 09:13 Page 10

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demandthattheirworkerssigntheiranti-ITGWU, PearseStreeton18December1913.Acauseof pledgeJacobshadlockedouttheirworkforce. death,lockjawfromtheinfectionoftheshotgun woundon1January1914.Thesolemnceremonyof Member’s Perspectives: OnMonday,1September1913-themorningafter herfuneral,followedbythousands;theunmarked Anne Smith thepolicebatonchargesandriotsthathadengrossed gravewhereherremainslie. thecity-Jacobsshutitsdoorson3,000employees, mostofthemyoungwomen.Thecompanyinsisted Casualtieswerenotnecessarilystrikers.Bystanders Today,onehundredyearsafterthe1913Dublin workerscouldnotwearunionbadgesatwork. werenotsafefromattack.Strike-breakerswere Lockout,westillhavepoverty,acutehousing TroublehadbeenbrewingsinceSaturday,whenmen increasinglyarmedduringattemptstodelivertainted problems,attacksonouremploymentrights hadbeensackedforrefusingtohandlestrike-bound goods.FiftyyearoldBridget Rowe wasshotasshe andonhealth,educationandsocialservices. flourarrivingfromShackleton’smillsinLucan. watchedaclashbetweenpicketsandscabsbesidea Theausteritypolicyinplacetodayfurther coaldepot. increaseseconomicinequalitybetweenwomen Whenthefactorywenttoreopen,invitinglocked-out andmen.Womeningeneralearnless,ownless workerstoreturn,whilepreparingtoemploynew Womenweredrawnintothedisputeinanumberof andaremorelikelytoliveinpovertythanmen. workers,picketingatJacobs’becameafocusof differentways,andfromdifferentplaces-withintheir Today,foreveryonepoundsterlingearnedbya struggleduringthelockout.Sincethepolicetreated homes,andfromthesmallerfactoriesandworkshops manawomanearnsoneeuro.Accessto picketsmorelikeunlawfulassembliesthanlegally moretypicalofDublinwomen’sworkplacesthan employmenthasbeenthesinglegreatestfactor protectedindustrialpractice,picketlinesandthe Jacob’s. insecuringeconomicautonomyforwomenand streetsaroundBishopStreetbecameafrequentsite hashencebeeninstrumentalinreducing ofconflict. Asthelockoutspreadacrossthewholecityand economicinequalitybetweenwomenandmen. county,andasitdraggedoutfromweeksintomonths, ManyoftheIWWUmembersimprisonedduringthe thestrugglebecametransformed,froma Theriseinwomen’sunemploymentwillonly lockout–Larkinclaimednearlysixtywomen,while confrontationabouttherightofmentojoinanyunion increaseowingtotheirconcentrationinthe PadraigYeatesestimatesaround40–wereJacobs’ oftheirchoice,theDublinlockoutbecame-asthe publicsector.Theclassandgenderdivideis workers.Thefewnamesweknowoftheseyoung, Dublinwriter,JimPhelanremembered-‘afighttothe againwideningduetoprivatisation, energeticanddefiantwomenwerealmostallJacobs’ deathbetweenthebusinessmenofIrelandandthecity deregulation,publicspendingcutsandincreasing workers,amongthemMolly Doyle, Rosie Hackett, ofDublin’.Inthatstrugglewomen–andchildren– appealstoindividualism.Unionsandcollectivism Lily Kempson andMary Ellen Murphy. wereatitsheart. areasnecessarytodayasin1913ifweareto winthestruggleforequalityandjusticeforall Theonlyyoungwomanwhowaskilledduringthe membersofsociety.WeasUnitemembers lockout,Alice Brady,leftfewtracesofhershortlife Theresa Moriarty is an independent researcher in women's todaymustallbecomeunionactivistsand of16years.Anaddress:21A,LukeStreet.Hertrade labour history and author of ”Who will look after the recognizetheimportanceandpowerofthe union,theIWWU.Whereandwhenshewasshot, kiddies? Households and collective action during the Dublin collective. duringastrike-breakingcoaldeliverytoSt.Mark’sin Lockout, 1913" (2002) and “Delia Larkin” (1998)

Above: Cartoon from the Sunday Independent, 21 September 1913 depicting the workers’ blind faith in ‘syndicalism’. Right: Front page of The Daily Mirror, 2 September 1913, showing the arrest of Larkin (disguised) on Bloody Sunday at the Imperial Hotel, O’Connell Street (now Clery’s Department Store). 5895-Irish_PolConf_Summer13_Final:Layout 1 19/06/2013 09:13 Page 11

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Larkin prepares to board the first relief ship arriving at the North Quays, Dublin. A very British strike By Padraig Yeates

‘Theheightofmoralgrandeur’washowJames Wehavenowayofknowinghowmanymenwere TheMasterBuildersontheotherhandnotalone Connolly describedthesupportofBritishtrade abletodoso.Weknowthatsomecompaniesdid insistedthateveryemployeesignthe‘yellowcontract’ unionistsforworkersintheGreatDublinLockoutof notrequirementosigntheform.Theseemployers beforetheycouldreturntoworkbutforcedunions 1913.Alltheunionsthatwouldeventuallycombineto wererelievedthatthedisputewasover.Someof toagreetoexpelanymemberwhorefused.A createUnite,fromdocklabourersandcartersto them,suchastheDublinPortandDocksBoard, numberofemployers,suchasJacob’sBiscuits,refused draughtsmenandengineers,playedaleadingrolein reinstatedmenwithnocutinpay,althoughitdid totakeback400womenwhohadbeenlockedout raisingfundsforthestruggle.Connollyusedthe nottakebackeveryone.ButthenthePortand afterrefusingtotakeofftheRedHandbadgeofthe phraseinanarticlefortheScottishsocialistpaper DocksBoardwasapublicbodyand,while ITGWU.Thecompanyhadnotevenwaitedforthe Forward inFebruary1914.Itwaswritteninthe employersmadeupthemajorityoftheboarditalso formaldeclarationofwaronTuesdaySeptember3rd, aftermathofdefeat.OnJanuary18ththeleaderofthe containedpublicrepresentatives,includingWilliam 1913,whentheDublinChamberofCommerce Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union, Partridge,acitycouncillorandITGWUofficial, adoptedaproposalfromitsPresident,William Jim Larkin,hadadvisedmemberstoreturntowork andWilliam Field,themostsympatheticofthe Martin Murphy,agreeingtoexpelallemployees onthebesttermstheycouldobtain,butnottosign city’snationalistMPstolabour.Hehadbeena whodidnotacceptedthenewtermsofemployment. theemployers‘yellow’contractrenouncinghisunion. Fenianinhisyouth. TheJacob’swomen,manyofthemteenagers,had 5895-Irish_PolConf_Summer13_Final:Layout 1 19/06/2013 09:13 Page 12

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foundthemselveslockedoutonthepreviousday. Nolan,werekilledinriotinginthecityontheeveof itwasalsothelastswansongofBritishlabourin BloodySunday,August31st,1913.Onthatdaythe Ireland.TheheroicstandofDublin’sworkerswas Otherworkers,particularlycartersandcoalheavers, DublinMetropolitanPoliceandRoyalIrish onlypossiblebecausethecitywasstillpartofthe foundtherewasnojobtogobackto.Duringthefive Constabularyseriouslyinjuredupto600peoplein UnitedKingdom.Classsolidarityacrossnational monthdisputeMurphyhadintroducedasubsidy O’ConnellStreet.John McDonagh,aparalysed boundarieshadsavedtheITGWUfromdestruction schemethathelpedsmallcompaniesbuymotorised carterwasbeatentodeathbypolicemeninhis atthehandsofIrishcapitalists. transport.Theyfoundthatatruckcouldnotalonedo bedlaterthatafternoon.Thetruefigureforthose theworkofninehorsesandcarts,butwascheaperto whodiedasadirectresultofthedisputewill Trade union activist, writer and historian Padraig Yeates is run,easiertodrivethroughapicketlineanddidnot neverbeknown.Manyfamiliescouldnotaffordto author of Lockout: Dublin 1913 and a member of the needtobefedwhenitwasnotworking. registerdeathsbecausetheyweretoodestitute 1913 Commemoration Committee. toaffordtheregistrationfee.Itishardlysurprising Theemployers,ledbyMurphy,hadturnedLarkin’s thattheIrishCitizenArmysprangupinthecityto tacticofusingthethreatofsympatheticstrikeaction protectunionpickets. againstanycompanythatrefusedtorecognisehis uniononitshead.Theywouldnotalonerefuseto Attheheightofthedisputesome15,000workers, Member’s Perspectives: recognisetheITGWUbutlockoutanyworkerwho including840womenwerelockedout.Notonlywere Aisling Murray wasamember,aswellasmembersofotherunions ITGWUmemberspunishedinthiswaybutsowere whorefusedtosignthe‘yellowcontract’. membersofotherunionswhorefusedtosignthe IsawatelevisedversionofStrumpetCityasa ‘yellowcontract’onprinciple.Atleastanother10,000 youngteenageranditmadeahugeimpression Backedbythepoliceandmilitary,theemployers workerswerelaidoffandotherinhabitantsof onme.Nowadays,wheneverIhearpeople wouldundoubtedlyhavesucceededwiththeir Dublin’stenements,theworstslumsinEurope,were questiontheexistenceorinfluenceofunionsin strategymuchearlierifithadnotbeenforthe affectedasmoneydriedup.BySeptember27th,when modernIreland,especiallycomplaints,Iremind £93,000infood,fuelandstrikepayraisedbythe thefirstfoodship,thessHare,arrivedathirdofthe myself(andoccasionallythem)ofthesacrifices British TUC.Infacttheemployersmightwellhave citywaslivingonthebreadline. madebyourancestorsduringeventssuchas beendefeatedifithadnotbeenforsecretsubsidies the1913Lockout. fromtheBritishShippingFederation,theEngineering AndyettheLockout,sparkedbyademandfor FederationandLordIveagh(theheadoftheGuinness higherpayfromITGWUinMurphy’stramline Ifsomeone,somewherehadnottakenastand dynasty)tokeepsomeoftheweakerfirmsafloat. companyonAugust26th,1913,failedtobreakthe andinspiredotherstojointhem–workersinall union.NotonlythatbuttheoutbreakoftheGreat sectors(andtheirfamilies)wouldbestillinthe TheShippingFederationalsosuppliedhundredsof Warafewmonthslatersawthependulumofpower darkageswhenitcomestowhatwenow strikebreakers.AsJusticesofthePeace,manyDublin begintoswingbacktowardsorganisedlabour.Men (rightly)assumetobebasicrightslike employersissuedthesestrikebreakerswithfirearms blacklistedinJanuary1914foundemployershadto reasonablepay,holidayentitlements,andhealth licencesandrevolvers.Therewereseveralshooting takethembackastheWarOfficesuckedreservists andsafety.Subsequentadvancesforwomenin incidentsinthecityincludingonewhichledtothe outofDublintoserveatthefront.Bythewar’send theworkplaceoweadebttoearlystrugglesto deathof16yearoldAlicia Brady,aJacob’sfactory theITGWU,whichhad30,000memberswhenthe winfairplayandrecognitionofthepossibilities worker. James Byrne,branchsecretaryofthe Lockoutbeganwasapproaching120,000andaunion thatcomefromworkingtogethertoachievea ITGWUinDunLaoghairediedasaresultofahunger picketinDublinwasvirtuallyinviolable. jointcause,evenwhennoteverymemberwill andthirststrikeheundertookinprotestatbeing benefitdirectlyoneveryoccasion. framedonanintimidationcharge.John Byrne,no WhiletheLockoutisoftenseenasacurtainraiser relationbutalsoanITGWUmember,aswasJames fortheEasterRisingandIrishWarofIndependence

Mass rally called by the British TUC in O’Connell Street in protest at events on ‘Bloody Sunday’ which passed off peacefully on 7 September 1913 (Freeman’s Journal, 13 September 1913).

Unite would like to express our thanks to Tomás O'Riordan of the University College Cork Multitext Project in Irish History for his help in sourcing photographs. Deigned by Unite the union Communications Department. Printed by W&G Baird. DB/5895/6-13