An estimated 300 people blocked the East Link Toll Bridge in Dublin this morning in support of striking port workers.
Members of communities in the north and south docklands marched to the bridge in support of the 42 workers who have been on strike for four weeks. They are in dispute with Marine Terminals Limited (MTL) over its plans to impose compulsory redundancies and alter pay and conditions for remaining staff.
The protest began shortly after 10am and ended before 1pm.
Siptu said that when the company decided to make 19 members of staff redundant earlier this year, it used its own selection criteria. Siptu said five workers were made redundant initially, and that on May 15th a further 13 were told by management that they were to be let go.
“At present none of the communities are represented by the workers in there. We are thankful that they are on board. The situation is not going to go away and is only going to get worse,” Siptu shop steward John Walsh said.
Independent Dublin Central TD Maureen O'Sullivan joined the protest this morning. She said she deplored the "appalling situation that has been allowed to develop" at the port.
"Skillful work that has been done over many years is now being given out to workers being brought in from other countries being paid at a much reduced rate," she said.
Marine Terminals Limited said that it had offered “extremely generous” redundancy terms and that it was regrettable that the union had taken industrial action. Marine Terminals Limited is one of a number of companies operating port facilities at Dublin Port.