One of the features of the War of Independence in June 1920 was the escalation of labour strikes and disputes throughout the country as people began to air their grievances.

  The radical newspaper, The Watchword of Labour was to the forefront of informing the public of the nature and progress of these disputes. In county Kilkenny both county council workers and farmers unions were agitating for better pay and working conditions throughout June 1920. In Naas, county Kildare female workers in the Morton carpet factory in the town were anxious for an improvement in their wages and strike was brewing towards the end of the month. In Edenderry, county Offaly there was some success in the increase in wages for the Alesbury Timber workers who had been on strikes for some time. And in county Westmeath farmers and stud farm workers sought an increase in their wages. In some areas the strikes and labour demands caused a sensation in local areas. In Charleville, county Cork a three hour demonstration to protest against the dismissal of two workers was led by a man carrying a ‘Red Flag’ which, it was reported, was supported by people coming to their doors and shouting ‘Up the Red Flag’. We will return to the issue of Labour and strikes in another post this month.    

Download Source: See for example, The Watchword of Labour, 26 June 1920, page 4.

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