Over 350 people turned out to a protest to greet Brian Cowen at the annual IBEC banquet. IBEC is the employers’ organisation who are pushing for a reduction of the minimum wage. They want to be able to claim an ‘inability to pay’ without gaining the consent of their workers.

The Right to Work campaign denounced Cowen as he arrived up to receive his new orders from the corporate elite. The protest was loud and extremely lively.

One lone parent gave details to the crowd about the money she is forced to live on each week. She denounced the new cuts which discriminate against children who are over 13.

Paul Hansard, a SIPTU activists, told how thousands of building workers are unemployed because  IBEC members were not investing in creating jobs, hoping to reduce wages further.

Kieran Allen from Socialist Worker described how IBEC were inserted into every ‘nook and cranny’ of the state and were dictating policy.

After the arrest of one activist , the whole crowd marched to the Pearse Street Garda station to demand his release. They only dispersed after his release a short time later.

Once again the Fright to Work campaign has shown its capacity to bring a new spirit of protest onto the streets.

Its next big event will be a ‘Reclaim the City’ carnival on Saturday August 28^th.

In the meantime is holding fund raising social on Saturday August 7^th in the Teachers Club, Parnell Square Dublin.