Mandate Trade Union offer condolences to the people of South Africa
Friday 6 December 2013Mandate Trade Union wishes to acknowledge the sad passing of one of the world’s great leaders Nelson ‘Madiba’ Mandela.
Mandate’s predecessor union, IDATU, played a small part in the campaign against the oppressive apartheid regime.
In 1984 IDATU member and Dunnes Stores worker Mary Manning was suspended for refusing to handle South African goods. Her co-workers went on strike for three years outside the Dunnes Stores outlet on Henry Street in Dublin.
John Douglas, Mandate General Secretary said the Dunnes Stores workers who took such a strong stance against the apartheid government in South Africa are a proud part of the history of Irish trade unionists.
“Today is a sad day for all of us but our thoughts are particularly with the family and close friends of Mr Mandela and the people of South Africa. Mr Mandela was a campaigner for equality, fairness and justice and he is rightly remembered for those attributes which are aligned with the trade union movement generally.”
He said, “Our own union has a unique history with the fight against the apartheid regime and many of our members suffered terrible injustices for their brave stance against the cruel regime. Today, I hope all of those workers are proud of the part they played in bringing justice to Mr Mandela and the people of South Africa.”
Mr Douglas said the plight of Mr Mandela and of the workers in Dunnes Stores is summed up by the quote from the former President of South Africa himself:
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s own chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” Nelson Mandela.
