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Plaque unveiled to commemorate Dunnes strikers

Thursday, 10 July 2008

IN 1984, 10 young women and one man, members of MANDATE trade union, started a long strike at Dunnes Stores in Henry Street.
They picketed in support of their union’s policy of solidarity with the anti-apartheid struggle and boycotting of South African products.
Their picket only ended when the Government agreed to ban the import of South African fruit and vegetables until the apartheid regime was over.
Mary Manning, a 21-year-old cashier in Dunnes Stores that year, very courageously refused to handle fruit from apartheid-era South Africa and led the strike in support of the anti-apartheid struggle.
Last month, a commemorative plaque from the people of South Africa to acknowledge the Dublin heroes’ significant role in the struggle was erected in a ceremony in Henry Street.
Donaghmede ward councillor Anne Carter (Lab) had proposed that Dublin City Council find a suitable location on the street to honour the strikers.
The proposal received unanimous support from city councillors.
Cllr Carter told Northside People: “Mary and her colleagues became household names in Ireland, South Africa and around the world, and they have been personally commended by Nelson Mandela and his successor Thabo Mbeki for their actions.
“It is astonishing that there is a street named after Mary in Johannesburg but that she and her colleagues have received so little recognition for their brave stance in their home city of Dublin where the strike actually took place.”
Cllr Carter was presented with a plaque from South African Ambassador, Priscilla Jana, at a ceremony on International Women’s Day.
The plaque has an inscription by South African President Mbeki recognising Mary and her colleagues’ commitment to peace and justice in South Africa.
“It was wonderful to accept the commemorative plaque from Ambassador Jana in honour of these brave Dublin workers,” added Cllr Carter.
South African Ambassador Priscilla Jana and Mrs Cader Asmal, from the Irish Anti-Apartheid movement, also attended the ceremony.

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