Up to 3,000 expected for anti-government protest march in Tullamore

Up to 3,000 people are expected to march through Tullamore town today (Friday) in an anti-government protest in the Taoiseach's heartland. Union leaders are appealing to everyone to take part in today's march in Tullamore in protest at the government's handling of the economic crises. The march will assemble at the County Hall at 2.30pm and will then proceed to Market Square where a number of speakers will address the crowd. The unions are emphasising that the march, which is taking place in towns and cities across the country today, is for anyone who believes that the government is not doing enough to tackle the economic crises. They are appealing for public sector workers, private sector workers, the unemployed, the retired and students to turn out. "The march is for anyone who is disappointed with the way the economic crises is being dealt with," said Frank Jones, SIPTU Branch Organiser for Offaly. "We don't have the answers, but we need to raise our voice. It's an anti-government protest." He added that there were no work stoppages on the day. "The protest is for people who can participate. There will be no people walking off the job," he added. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions emphasised that this is not a dispute between public and private sector workers. ICTU is calling on the government to tackle the jobs crises, stop income/welfare cuts, protect essential services, safeguard homes and make the wealthy pay their share, in a bid to kickstart the economy into recovery. "Over recent days there have been many callers to the SIPTU Offices in the region expressing support for this protest. T here has been some questioning as to whether this is a Private Sector or a Public Sector dispute, it is neither. At a time when 450,000 are out of work, this is a protest for any and all people to express a view that they are dissatisfied with the way in which the current crises is being dealt with by the Government," added Mr Jones. "We, in ICTU and SIPTU, are trying to get the message out to all that this protest is for anybody and everybody that believes that there is a Better Fairer Way to deal with the economic crises."Today's speakers include Christy McQuillan of SIPTU, Eamon Devoy from the TEEU, Denis Rohan from IMPACT and John Loughnane a local SIPTU branch secretary and public sector worker.