Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Post 1916 Rising Leaflets - Part IV: "War Against Starvation Wages" #ITGWU #1916 #285

The last of four hand leaflets from the Eileen Ryan Collection is not about rebellion, or independence, or prisoners of war. This one doesn't call for a public meeting - it seems to be just about informing people about a strike in Dublin by coffin makers. Strong language ("scabs", "starvation") is being used and specific "Funeral Undertakers" are named (Corrigan and Fanagan still exist today). What exactly the poor people of Dublin were supposed to do with their dead is not mentioned. The union involved: the Irish Transport and General Worker's Union (ITGWU) is now known as SIPTU, and of course was closely involved with James Connolly and the Irish Citizen Army in 1916. I have not been able to find anything on-line about a coffin maker's strike in Dublin at that time, so I don't know how long it lasted or if it was effective. 


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