Activism in the 80s

Dunnes Stores Strike,
Dublin 1984-87 Timeline

19 July 1984:

Mary Manning, a cashier at Dunnes Stores in Dublin, refuses to handle a purchase of Outspan grapefruit, marking the start of the strike.

Nine other workers walk out in support: Karen Gearon, Cathryn O’Reilly, Tommy Davis, Theresa Mooney, Veronica Munroe, Sandra Griffin, Alma Russell, Michelle Gavin and Liz Deasy.

Strikers install an official picket line outside Dunnes Stores

1984:

IDATU (Irish Distributive and Administrative Trade Union) issues a directive instructing its members to stop selling South African produce.

One week after the strike started:

Nimrod Sejake, a South African exile, joins the strike in solidarity.

August 1984:

The Dockers Union lead a parade down Henry Street in support of the Saturday picket.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu meets Karen Gearon and Mary Manning in London and expresses support for the Dunnes Stores workers' protest.

1.8.1984. Dublin, Ireland. On the picket line only couple of days into the strike, Dunnes Stores strikers, L to r, Sandra Griffen, Michelle Gavin and Mary Manning. ©Photo by Derek Speirs (Image use subject to licence - credit photo Derek Speirs)

July 1985:

Following an invitation from Bishop Desmond Tutu to visit South Africa, eight of the strikers and IDATU union organiser Brendan Archbold, are met by police and armed forces at Johannesburg airport and sent back to London eight hours later.

The strikers are invited to speak at various events, including in Moscow, Berlin, London.

8 December 1984:

Theresa and Cathryn are stopped by the Special Branch at Parnell Square and asked for names and addresses

9 February 1985:

Theresa visited at home by the Special Branch and questioned about the strike.

11.7.1985.Dublin, Ireland. Dunnes Stores Strikers at Dublin Airport following their return from South Africa. Here Brendan Archbold and Cathryn O'Reilly. ©Photo by Derek Speirs (Image use subject to licence - credit photo Derek Speirs)

11.7.1985.Dublin, Ireland. Dunnes Stores Strikers at Dublin Airport following their return from South Africa. Here Karen Gearon and Mary Manning greeted by Nimrod Sejake. ©Photo by Derek Speirs (Image use subject to licence - credit photo Derek Speirs)

23.8.1985. Dublin, Ireland. Dunnes Stores Strikers on the picket line in Henry Street. L to R, Tommy Davis, Cathryn O'Reilly, Sandra Griffen, Mary Manning, Theresa Mooney, Alma Russell, Vonnie Munroe (with her daughter Leah) and Karen Gearon. ©Photo by Derek Speirs (Image use subject to licence - credit photo Derek Speirs)

December 1985:

IDATU instructs the strikers to lift the pickets on the store as a gesture of goodwill towards government to allow them time to explore a possible ban on SA produce. All of the strikers disagree strongly with this decision, leading to tension between the strikers and the union.

11 October 1985:

Karen Gearon addresses the United Nations’ Special Committee against Apartheid.

January – October 1986:

The strikers picket the Dail Eireann, Leinster House every week.

7.3.1986.Dublin, Ireland. Dunnes Stores Strikers outside Dail Eireann, Leinster House. ©Photo by Derek Speirs (Image use subject to licence - credit photo Derek Speirs)

31.10.1986. Dublin, Ireland. Dunnes Stores strikers. L to R, (back row) Brendan Barron, Liz Deasy, Tommy Davis. L to R (front row) Mary Manning. Karen Gearon, Alma Russell,, Sandra Griffen, Therese Mooney, Michelle Gavin, Vonnie Monroe and Cathryn O'Reilly. ©Photo by Derek Speirs (Image use subject to licence - credit photo Derek Speirs)

January 1987:

On the 1st January 1987 Ireland becomes the first Western Country in the world to ban SA imports (India being the first in the world).

Despite the ban, there is still produce available in Ireland until about the end of March. it’s understood Dunnes did not breach the ban, however they insisted that they would stock the goods as long as they were available in Ireland meaning the strikers could be faced with SA produce.

The strikers refuse to go back until there is no SA produce in Ireland.

5.1.1987. Dublin, Ireland. Dunnes Stores Strikers outside Dunnes Stores, Henry Street following the end of the strike. ©Photo by Derek Speirs (Image use subject to licence - credit photo Derek Speirs)

5.1.1987. Dublin, Ireland. Management Letter presented to the Dunnes Stores Strikers to sign, outside the Dunnes Stores shop, Henry Street following the end of the strike. ©Photo by Derek Speirs (Image use subject to licence - credit photo Derek Speirs)

March 1988:

Karen Gearon is dismissed from Dunnes. She takes them to the Labour Court and wins her case against them, however it is many years before she gains employment as she is blacklisted.

Karen leaves Dublin and retrains. Mary, Liz & Vonnie emigrate.

April 1987:

The Strike officially ends with 7 of the 10 strikers returning to work.

11 February 1990:

Nelson Mandela is released from prison in South Africa, marking a major milestone in the fight against apartheid.

1 July 1990:

The strikers meet Nelson Mandela, who expresses his gratitude for their support.

1.7.1990. Dublin, Ireland. Dunnes Stores striker, Cathryn O'Reilly accompanied by some of the other Dunnes Stores strikers (pictures here L to R), Sandra Griffen, Liz Deasy and Theresa Mooney, presents Nelson Mandela with artwork by Irish Artist Robert Ballagh, at the Berkeley Ct. Hotel. This was on the occasion of the 1st visit of Nelson Mandela to Ireland following his release from prison in South Africa. ©Photo by Derek Speirs (Image use subject to licence - credit photo Derek Speirs)

1994:

10th Anniversary of the start of the strike.

19.7.1994. Dublin, Ireland. On the 10th anniversary of the start of the strike, Dunnes Stores strikers meet together. Here with Brendan Archbold (Union official), Dunnes Stores Strikers L to R, (back row) Liz Deasy, Karen Gearon, Therese Mooney, Brendan Barron and Tommy Davis. (front row) L to R, Michelle Gavin, Alma Russell, Sandra Griffen, Cathryn O'Reilly and Mary Manning. ©Photo by Derek Speirs (Image use subject to licence - credit photo Derek Speirs)

15 December 2013:

The strikers attend Nelson Mandela's funeral, where they meet Nimrod Sejake's family and speak to various groups and organizations in South Africa, including an ANC event.

30 October 2013:

Plaques honouring the strikers are unveiled on Henry Street in Dublin.

2014:

30th Anniversary of the start of the strike.

10.7.2014. Galway, Ireland. Dunnes Stores strikers at the Galway Film Fleadh 2014 for the screening of BLOOD FRUIT, a documentary film by Sinead O'Brien, at the Town Hall Theatre. Here with Sinead O'Brien (2nd from left) and Joe Murray from Afri (2nd from right) , Dunnes Stores Strikers L to R, Karen Gearon, Cathryn O'Reilly, Liz Deasy, Michelle Gavin, Sandra Griffen and Mary Manning. ©Photo by Derek Speirs (image use subject to licence - credit photo Derek Speirs)

2019:

35th Anniversary of the start of the strike. To celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the strike, Dave Gibney from Mandate Trade Union, Clara Purcell as producer, and Tracy as director jointly organised a two-day event at Liberty Hall in Dublin on 1st and 2nd November 2019.

2.11.2019. Dublin, Ireland. Dunnes Stores strike 35th anniversary event in Liberty Hall. Here strikers L to R, Karen Gearon, Cathryn O'Reilly, Liz Deasy, Michelle Gavin and Mary Manning. ©Photo by Derek Speirs (Image use subject to licence - credit photo Derek Speirs)

2.11.2019. Dublin, Ireland. Dunnes Stores strike 35th anniversary event in Liberty Hall. Here strikers L to R, Karen Gearon, Cathryn O'Reilly, Liz Deasy, Michelle Gavin and Mary Manning. ©Photo by Derek Speirs (Image use subject to licence - credit photo Derek Speirs)