Four Irish Ferries workers staging a 17-day lock-in on one of the company's vessels today thanked the tens of thousands of protesters who marched during yesterday's national day of protest.
At least 100,000 attended Ictu-organised rallies in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Athlone and Rosslare to demand Government action to combat exploitation of migrant workers and the displacement of jobs.
Electrical engineer Gary Jones, second officer Brian Whitfield and marine engineers Vincent Hetherington and John Curry barricaded themselves into the control room of the Isle of Inishmoredocked in Pembroke, Wales on November 23rd.
They acted when Irish Ferries hired a security firm to escort Eastern European agency workers onto the ship.
Speaking on Day 17 of the protest, Mr Curry said today: "We're absolutely overwhelmed by the figures at the marches."
The control room is below the water level and is lit by constant fluorescent light so the men use blindfolds to sleep.
Mr Curry said the men were not sure if they would be home to their families for Christmas but were encouraged that Irish Ferries management were still holding talks with union officials at the Labour Relations Commission.
"We've lost trust in the management of this company and we feel that they could do anything. The mistrust for this company from the staff is huge," he said.
Last night, talks at the Labour Relations Commission between union representatives and management at the ferry company adjourned without a resolution.
LRC chief Kieran Mulvey said he would be contacting both parties to establish a basis on which negotiations could recommence.
PA