Confrontation not `understanding'
In Dublin, at least 50,000 workers marched from Parnell Square to
Leinster House, where they handed in a letter of protest against Free
State tax policy. They then marched back to the GPO to listen to
speeches from prominent trade unionists. This May Day march was not
just a demonstration against Leinster House policy on PAYE, but also
against the so-called ``National Understanding'' and in solidarity with
workers around the world.
The march was led by the Irish Transport and General Workers Union
Band, closely followed by the banners of the Dublin Council of Trade
Unions and the District Council of the ITGWU. The vast majority of
the marchers were from the non-clerical unions, the white-collar
unions having followed the line of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
and boycotted the strike and march.
This march was a triumph for the Dublin Council of Trade Unions and
the workers on the streets, because from the time they had planned
this demonstration, they had to face opposition from Leinster House,
the ICTU, and the ITGWU.
Phoblacht, 5 May, 1979
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)