Trade union leaders from US in Ireland to mark 1913 Lockout and austerity fightback

LEADERS of some of the biggest trade unions in North America are speaking at a rally in Dublin’s Mansion House on Wednesday evening to mark the centenary of the 1913 Lockout and share experiences of austerity and the trade union movement’s fightback.

The Mansion House rally on Wednesday runs from 7pm to 9pm under the slogan of ‘In Common Cause Against Austerity, 1913-2013’ features John Douglas of ICTU, Terry O'Sullivan of LiUNA (North America), Patricia McKeown of UNISON, and Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD.

In Ireland at the invitation of Sinn Féin, the US trade union leaders will meet with their Irish counterparts and workers and political and community figures across the island.

The delegation from North America includes:

• Dan Kane Snr, Eastern Region International Vice-President of the Teamsters;

• Terry O’Sullivan, General President of LiUNA;

• John Hegarty, National President of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union;

• Brent Booker, Secretary of the Building Construction Trades Department;

• Edward M. Smith, Chief Executive of Ullico.