Mick Lynch, the general secretary of the RMT rail union in the UK, stated at a Dublin event on Saturday that an Irish government including Sinn Féin is equally as uncertain to benefit workers and trade union members as a Labour government is in the UK.
Despite Sinn Féin and the Labour Party having a range of appealing policies, Lynch pointed out that all political parties face pressures upon winning power, indicating that trade unions will need to put forth substantial effort to ensure the parties stay true to their pledges. He made these comments at the Robert Tressell Festival, an event honouring Dublin-born author Robert Tressell and his book, The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists. The gathering, held at Liberty Hall, saw the attendance of Jeremy Corbyn, ex-leader of the British Labour Party, and Clare Daly, a Dublin MEP.
Lynch warned against blindly believing in any party, including Sinn Féin, to safeguard trade unionism and the working class, instead stating, “We have to take initiative.” He went on to note that Sinn Féin had adopted many trade union values previously held by the Labour Party, but would likely find the real-world challenges of governance taxing.
Drawing parallels with Scotland’s SNP, Lynch indicated that managing enduring commitments to various constituents, particularly for nationalist parties, can prove difficult in the long run. On a similar note, Jeremy Corbyn likened the impact of the ongoing Gaza conflict on today’s youth to the influence of the Vietnam War on his generation.
The event was also set to welcome contributions from President Michael D Higgins and American labour organiser Chris Smalls later on Saturday.