13th November 2024
Date: Saturday, 23 November 2024
Time: 1pm
Location: Larkin statue, O’Connell Street, Dublin
The trade union movement was built on the simple idea of uniting working people to stand stronger together, both at home and abroad.
We are committed to fighting poverty, discrimination, racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, disablism, and fascism. In short, we stand for unity and hope.
We stand for solidarity, decent work, and the pursuit of better lives and social justice for all, regardless of background.
We are the antithesis of the far-right. Where they sow division, we stand for unity and bold solutions to the challenges faced by working communities, refusing to blame those who come here in search of a better life. Everyone deserves a home, care when ill, decent work, and safe, thriving communities.
In Ireland, 1 in 5 workers is a citizen of another country. They are essential to sectors like healthcare and construction and deserve to feel safe in their workplaces and communities. Yet, in recent years, some have taken to our streets, communities, and workplaces to spread hate and division, seizing every opportunity to push messages of racism, misogyny, and bigotry. This has led to violent attacks in places like Belfast and Dublin, targeting workers in libraries, schools, transport, retail, and security.
A year ago, they weaponised the tragic stabbing of a child in Parnell Square to spread misinformation and incite hatred, culminating in disgraceful scenes in our city centre last November.
We stand with all victims of hate, resolute in our zero tolerance for misinformation and attempts to incite division and violence. Solidarity and unity are at the heart of who we are and what we fight for.
Join us for a workers rally of Solidarity, Hope and Inclusion.
John Boyle, INTO General Secretary said:
As primary teachers, we’re deeply committed to fostering inclusive, safe, and supportive environments for every child in our classrooms, regardless of their background. It’s distressing to see harmful rhetoric and division spreading in our communities – places where children, families, and workers should feel safe and valued.
Owen Reidy, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said:
Now, more than ever, we need to come together. This rally is a call to all who believe in building a society rooted in unity, respect, and hope. It’s a reminder that every person who lives and works here—regardless of where they come from—is part of our community and deserves to feel safe and valued.
We will gather to stand against those who seek to divide us and instead champion the dignity and rights of every worker, every child and every member of our community. In recent times, we have witnessed troubling attempts to exploit tragic events and spread messages of hate, targeting workers and families who contribute so much to the fabric of our society. Such actions do not represent us, and we must reject them with conviction.
I am asking those in the trade union movement to ensure we have a strong presence of activists from unions across our movement at this rally, to show that all unions stand together in solidarity. Together, let us demonstrate that compassion and unity are stronger than division and hatred. Join us as we rally for a future of inclusion, strength, and unwavering unity.
We encourage teachers to promote the rally and put up the following poster for the rally in staff rooms.
