The Dunnes Stores strikers who supported a colleague suspended for refusing to handle South African goods at the height of that country's apartheid regime yesterday celebrated the 20th anniversary of the beginning of their industrial action.
The gathering at the Teachers' Club in Parnell Square commemorated the strike of the mid eighties, which lasted for two years and nine months, and the achievement of those involved.
"Eleven people got the Government to change their policy," said the Mandate shop steward at the time, Ms Karen Gearon. "I'm very proud of it," she said.
It was Ms Mary Manning's refusal to handle a grapefruit on July 19th, 1984, which led to her suspension from the Henry Street branch of Dunnes Stores.
Her action was in support of a call by the trade union, Mandate, to boycott South African goods. Nine other workers walked out in solidarity with her and Mr Brendan Barron, from the Crumlin branch, also joined them. In April, 1986, the Government finally implemented sanctions against South Africa, preventing the country's agricultural produce from being imported.
The 11 strikers had to survive on the meagre strike pay of £21 a week.
For one participant, Ms Veronica Monroe, it was the last straw that led to the loss of her house.
One of the strikers, Ms Karen Gearon, said: "Financially it was tough and at some times we felt that we could give it all up, but there was a lot of support."
Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mr Nelson Mandela were among the campaigners who met the strikers.
Ms Catherine O'Reilly said that today she would still not hesitate to get involved with such a worthy cause.
"People probably said when we were doing it at the time that we were only all women and we wouldn't make a difference but we did."