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Centenary Celebrations

SIPTU General Secretary says Larkin’s message of social solidarity more important now than ever at launch of Commemorative Stamp

Date Released: 29 Apr 2009

Larkin Centenary Stamp SIPTU General Secretary Joe O’Flynn says values of social solidarity espoused by Big Jim Larkin more important now than ever. He was speaking at the launch of the An Post stamp issued today to commemorate the centenary of the founding of SIPTU’s forerunner, the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union, in 1909.

Speaking at the launch in the GPO, Mr. O’Flynn said, “An Post is to be congratulated for making the centenary of the founding of the ITGWU with this superbly designed stamp by John Conway. It is very striking and I am sure many people, as well as our own members, will treasure it. It is a fine tribute to Big Jim Larkin and his comrades by a leading agency of the Irish state that the ITGWU and the trade union movement generally did so much to establish and nurture.

“Today we remain committed in these very challenging times to the same values of social solidarity that Larkin espoused. If anything Larkin’s vision of creating a society based on social equity is even more important today than in the past, whether it is in protecting conditions of employment, such as workers’ pension rights, or ensuring the most vulnerable members of our society are not forced to pay for the present crisis.”





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