Eleven supermarket workers who staged a landmark strike over South African apartheid in the 1980s were today commemorated by an official plaque unveiled in central Dublin.
In 1984 11 staff members at Dunnes Stores on Henry Street refused to work and picketed in support of trade union Mandate’s policy of boycotting South African products.
The picket lasted two and a half years and only ended when the Government agreed to ban the import of South African fruit and vegetables until the apartheid regime was over.
Speaking at the unveiling of the plaque Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Martin said Ireland was proud of the courageous action staged by lead protestor Mary Manning and her colleagues.
“When Mary Manning spoke out against apartheid in 1984 her principled stance was not universally welcomed. Today Ireland looks back with pride at her unshakeable belief in her principles and recognises the courage with which she and her colleagues stood up for these principles,” he said.
The plaque was presented to Manning by the South African President Thabo Mbeki and will now be a permanent feature outside Dunnes Stores on Henry Street.
Professor Kader Asmal, former South African Minister and a leading member of the Irish Anti-Apartheid movement, also attended the unveiling along with South African Ambassador Priscilla Jana.
Anne Carter, Dublin’s Deputy Lord Mayor, said she hoped the memorial would help the Dunnes Stores workers get the recognition they deserve in Ireland for their stance.
“It is astonishing that there is a street named after Mary in Johannesburg and that she and her colleagues have received so little recognition for their brave stance in their own home city where the strike took place,” she said.
PA