Cialist Challenge 26 March 1981 yn la Rose, loft, from the New Cross Massacre Action Comtee, was one of the speakers at a meeting in London last day which plodged support to the Irish hunger strikers. Kesh.
day, Patsy O'Hare and Raymond Peter Mc Creesh also went on hunger strike.
Socialist Challenge recently talked to FERGUS O'HARE Belfast. As a member of the National H Block/Ar magh Committee, he one of those responsible for the behalf prisoners.
Fergus also
member of the Irish revolutionary socialist orgaPeoples nisation, Democracy.
Action The National H Block/ Armagh Committee regards work in the trade portant par culteid, portant. that end,' said Fergus, organising a Day of Action hope wil hal which have as muct success Shan she Day of Action re more, called on December when, certainly in Belfast, the number of people who came out on the streets was greater than any trade union day of action which has been called by the official trade union movement.
Those workers who did come out in support of the prisoners time were from the rank and file of the various unions. although individual union leaders expressed their support for the prisoners' Caus.
Saturday 25 April, prisoners - grant the THERE are now four Irish political prisoners on hunger strike in the H Blocks of Long Two weeks ago, Frankie Hughes joined Bobby Sands on the protest, then, last SunPti SOCIALIST REPUBLIC ON NE TA SUPPORT THE PRISONERS New issue just out.
*Support the Prisoners Make the British Concede *H Block/Armagh Strategy for Victory *Reviews: The Troubles and ctory to tne Armasn Women ilable from PO Box 50 There was other ofFergus: number trades passed resolutions of support, as did the two largest unions in Ireland - the ITGWU and the ATGWU. 'But when we called for industrial action it was left rank and file workers to organise themselves and to Lutile out in many cases in the face of opposition fron the official union leaderships.
National Demonstration Called by H-Block/Armagh (Landon) Committee Fergus O'Hare "That was why, in one sense, the positive sponse of workers throughout the country the nucer sunke suronseolne national committee. It surprised, too, . a number of trade union bureaucrats.
The National H Block/ Armagh Committee has also been encouraged by the impressive participa campaign. magh youth committees were set up during the last hunger strike, and these Fergus believes, were a real step foward:
"The youth committees were the first serious attempt since the early civil penod youth to listen to what LiIcy • have to them get out and put their ideas into action. This is a very important aspect of the whole campaign.
Also important was the support the hunger strike received from the women's an international level, and savs Mergus 'the committee is looking to draw feminist support women Unions But Fergus's closing remarks were directed towards trade unionists in Britain:
'In view of the statements which the TUC have put out on the situa tion in H Block, it's worth stating the official position Irish Congress of Trade Unions. As agreed at the 1978 conference, the policy is that prisoners should not be forced to wear prison uniforms, should have to do prison work, and should not be penalised for refusing to do either of these 'When the TUC or the British Labour Party state their opposition to the demands the Irish political prisoners, they are theretore going against the leadership of the Irish trade union movement.
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