War int, when a UCATT shop steward aho is also a member of Provisional Fain led 150 workers off his blin building site. They marched the Dail (Irish Parliament) to de Did goveramant intervention on be alf of Frank Stags, an Irish political oner then on hunger strike in a ish jail in support of demands for atter conditions.
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On 5 November you succeeded in persuading 150 of your fellow worken to march to the Dail in support of Francis Stagg. How did you org One day before, the previons Wedry. 1d put up an issue of An PhobrEProvisional Sina Fein pepery with tale on Stage in it. Then was a lot tot in it, bot the management fit dow I put it up again the Then on Friday I made a short spooch peating tor sympathy for Francis Stage, Hing how conspiracy laws were used to porscunion actanty in history. This TELECO WHI Falo rang the Irish embassy in London, it was piven a poor response by them. The following Monday I put up another is culling "Stagg at point of no return, nd contacted Stagg's relatives in England. They told me that he was in a very serious ondition and that the prison authorities wote indifferent to his case.
the Irish embassy again. They told me there was no further progress, so 1 phoned the General Secretary of LICATT and preparod placards and the coffin for the Al lunch time I spoke again in the canteens on the site, the response in gentral was good and about 150 men came at onto the road, with the exception of a group of Officials' (Republicans) on the ile who boycotted the march. We wrote ur statement on the way to the Dail and ollected signatures, this was handed in at bout 3pm.
.. * * * Why do you feel they were prepared to support your call for a march?
The tesponse was in mans wars in em Iso because the men on my site trusted They'd soon me in action before on rade union issues, when we'd won then. and so they were prepared to accept my Udgement on this one as well.
It's no good expecting an immediate pesponse from peopic in a crist situation. unless you've worked for it before I feci that this is something that the Republicar Movement Isa't really aware of. They were for instance impressed by the march 3 to North. nd realised its warth, but only afterwards, ind it hass't pashed Chen, so far, to recon der Deir attitude to work in the workane Red Weekly 30 January 1975 Page B So effective was this action that by 4.00 pm on the same day the Irish Minister for External Affairs, Garret FitzGerald, was on his way to the site to assure the men that the case was being taken up. Below we reprint from our frish sister paper The Plough an interview with the steward in which he draws some important lessons from this action for the whole relationship between the Republican movement and the working class in Ireland.
To-DAY
Building workers walk off site in support of Frank Stage Do you feel that the Republican On the morning of Tuesday 5th. 1 rang: Movement has neglected the impor Stance of this work, shown perhaps by their attitude over the arrest of Sean MeStiofain in 1972, when they called for working class support at the last moment? -•****** Yes, I don't think they see the sienithave a perspective of work in che class as such. They have a good base in terits of don't organise them How do you feel this should be done?
RSSRERRRRASHAR It's necessary for the Republican Movement to please its trade aman members lagg's case hit on a live nerve. Butit was as militants, to give them a way of interEvening in everyday struggles, so that they are seen not only as incribers of the Kep oblican Movement, hur also as the most militant workers there. The mavement should also uncounge ats members to put corward is alcas when inay wong in po organised way, so that it would bo pos ible to mobilise large numbers of workers i an emergency situation, it for sence there was an acceleration of the situation 40449099*8-+ You mention the question of an upsurge in the North, how do you prisoner ....... feel the situation is developing for the Provisional Republican Movement?
The danger at the moment, coming up to the Convention elections, is that the Provisionals will be outflanked by the Orticials. or possibly even the SDEP, If they can't give the Caholic working class political leadership. I feel they should challenge the SDIP in the context of the election while they still have the military strengul and capability on such questions as troop cance of the working class aad they don't withdrawal and the ond of internment.
It's doubtlaL however, whether the present leadership will be able to meet the numbers, many isolated militants, but they challenge, shown I think by for instancs O Connell's appeach to the bonhing campsign in England. This is more in clined to alienate the English working Ciess, rather than encourage them to support demands for withdrawal of the troops. There is also a danger that they will be in favour of the 'conference build up the political strength of the ...E....
What do you feel should be done in the present situation? ...
Through the base it alreudy has, the Republicas movement should try and oupanise a united front, possibly with other republican i socinist proupings, an incr like anti-internment in the South. This af boatse brings us back to the question of changing its whole attitade to its working class membors and orgenising their work, There is also a need to clarily what it stands for. Eire Nis (the Provisionals' programmel is incomplete and reprosents much more the siciation in the 1920'%.
own"
QUESTIONING a start" that not very well.