A morning downpour did nothing to dampen the resolve of carers picketing the Brothers of Charity headquarters in Waterford yesterday writes Chris Dooley.
"The weather has been terrible all day long", said Mr Brendan White, a member of the IMPACT strike committee and one of about 28 carers on picket duty outside the Brothers' centre in Ferrybank.
"But there is a great resolve to this. There seems to be a resolution amongst people that they are out and they are going to stay out. We certainly hope the strike doesn't drag on because nobody will be the winner but people are wiling to stay out if needs be."
Ms Mary Kinsella, who has worked for the Brothers for 20 years and currently cares for six men in a group home, was among the fortunate ones picketing for the afternoon. "The others who were here this morning weren't prepared for the rain and they got soaked to the skin. They phoned us to warn us so we came prepared."
Having taken the decision to go on strike, she and her colleagues were prepared to see it through for as long as necessary. "We certainly deserve the increase we are seeking. Carers working in children's homes are getting this enormous increase and we're doing the very same work."
Throughout the day cars and lorries passing on the busy Rosslare road honked their horns to show support for the strikers. Local residents brought sandwiches and buns. There had been no negative reaction at all, said Mr White.
Even management of the centre being picketed had been supportive. "They have provided tea and coffee and said any support we need they would be willing to give. There's no ill-feeling at all between us and them," he said.
The strikers in Waterford work as house parents in residential homes run by the Brothers throughout the city. They did not wish to discommode the people for whom they cared, said Mr White, but they were entitled to parity of esteem.