Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
VARIOUS GROUPS REPRESENTING feminist and pro-choice activists are supporting a threat to strike unless a referendum on the Eighth Amendment is called by the government by the 8 March.
‘Strike 4 Repeal’ describe themselves as an “ad-hoc, non-affiliated group of activists, academics, artists and trade unionists”; the groups supporting the strike include the Abortion Rights Campaign, Outhouse, the Anti-Racism Network and Sex Workers Alliance Ireland.
Various college pro-choice groups and feminist societies are also in support.
In a statement, Strike 4 Repeal said the strike would not be an industrial strike in the traditional sense.
[It] could include taking an annual leave day off work, refraining from domestic work for the day, wearing black in solidarity and staging a walkout during your lunch break.
We ask business owners to consider closing their services for all or part of the day as a solidarity action.
Spokesperson Avril Corroon says “We share the concern of many pro-choice groups that the Citizen’s Assembly is no more than a hollow pretense of progress”.
Aoife Frances says that they “believe a national strike is not only possible, but an incredible opportunity to show the sheer power of our movement, and to put pressure on the government to call a referendum.
“In the past five years, support for repeal has grown to a level that the government can no longer ignore.”
In Ireland, the result of a referendum must be then passed into law by government.
Article amended to clarify that the groups supporting the action are not organisers of the proposed strike.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I’m pretty sure that abortion is not a valid reason for organising a strike and no labour court would protect these people from being sacked. That is if they even work, as it sounds more like a hissy fit from college students.
@Jason Culligan: Actually, if you ” read between the lines “, They’re actually thought this out, particularly in regards to ” Annual Leave “. Not too sure about ” the Lunch Walk – Out “m, though I for one don’t picture Enda, and the rest of them, in their Offices, ” cowering in fear “, at the thought of it.
“Labour” court would hardly deal with this is right.
@Jason Culligan:a bunch of students with arts degrees going on strike, how will the country survive. I took one look at the heads on them and burst out laughing. How on earth does this make it into the front page of the journal…. Oh yeah it’s pro abortion
@Jason Culligan: Let them goon strike…let them go to another country as well while they are at it
@cormac, I believe it’s having to go to another country in the first place that has them striking.
@Jason Culligan: A large scale protest worked quite well in Poland a few months ago, when the government threatened to ban abortion in all circumstances:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/polish-parliament-rejects-abortion-ban-after-women-stage-all-out-strike-a7347616.html
@Jason Culligan: on second read is actually funnier, “staging a walkout on your lunch break ” oooh that will show em
You see tha’ts how the Liberals are gonna do things now. Do what we want or we’ll throw a hissy fit and not go to work/Shut the place down. Our way or the highway. Pathetic..
You left out boycotts… and pathetic, by the way, is a pro lifer lieing to a woman under the guise of a family planning clinic… more power to these women. Repeal the 8th!
Im not bonkers about unions and flippant strike action. There does exist I believe both useful and right reasons to strike and disrupt. This situation is both. It wouldn’t hurt to get the government used to paying some attention to the people if at all possible as there will no doubt be some tenuous agreements and treaties to make over the next months and even years. Alternative to action is “do nothing except what we decide, don’t question our silence, dont question our motives”. Most importantly, everyday that goes by women are being hurt in so many different ways because this is not being dealt with. People are ready to vote and it really has to be dealt with urgently. If they can sign a multi million euro water billing entity into existence at the snap of a finger because our pipes have been neglected and europes pockets are hurting they can arrange a referendum because Irish women are being neglected and are physically hurting.
@GameOverMan: Crap, I downvoted you by accident, sorry! Great response!
Let them. No one might even notice.
@Padraig Corcoran: it’s pro abortion so the journal notices, you won’t see this anywhere else in the media I can promise you.
Anyone who value their jobs would want to think long and hard about this one
@Alan Scott: You didn’t read what they said, did you.
Attention seekers.
The pro abort movement is a dinosaur of the past, the rest of the civilized world are restricting access to abortion.
There are too many people in the world already. It should be mandatory
The pro abort movement is a figment of your imagion, the rest of the civilised world are actually protecting womens rights to bodily integrity.
Abortion is not a right Cillín. I would argue that access to medical abortion under life-threatening circumstances is definitely a right however a right to abort as and when one wishes is not a right. Most opinion polls would suggest that a majority of Irish agree with that viewpoint and abortion on demand doesn’t have enough support to pass in any referendum.
@Jason Culligan: They have a right to travel to the UK, where their rights to their bodily autonomy will be accepted,,,
Autonomy over ones body which includes, but is not limited to abortion, IS a right Jason. Would you ever just drop the pretences and admit you have an obvious issue with women? Every article you’re “boo hoo men this” “feminanzis that”.
And as you’re a conservative I think it’s utterly bizarre that you advocate circumstances against personal freedoms.
@Titus Groan:
You see Titus, it’s not as simple as autonomy over one’s body as there is a second developing body to consider.
You are right that every individual has a right to bodily autonomy. Absolutely spot on. The issue though is that, when a woman is pregnant, her body is not just her own anymore. She is also carrying a potential human life and that obviously complicates the situation.
You believe that the woman has full bodily autonomy even though she’s carrying a developing human being. I, however, believe that said developing human also has a right to bodily autonomy and only under specific circumstances should it be acceptable to end that life.
If you don’t want to have children, I get that and fully support an individual’s right to not have children. That’s what contraceptives are for, not abortion.
No, you cannot compel an individual to donate their body to another to save that person. This even applies with grown adults never mind a non-sentient foetus. See: McFall Vs. Shrimp case.
Jason is starting to go over to the dark side ..
Well said Tutus. @Jason, where’s the line Jason? Or is it a total ban you’re in support of. If so why stop there… would you support a ban on killin sperm too? Thats potential life too, is it not?… and ya kill a couple of million of those fellas a week… You’ll be anti menstruation next.
@GameOverMan: I honestly cannot believe that Jason came out with this line :”The issue though is that, when a woman is pregnant, her body is not just her own anymore.”
Time for Jason to put that Trump cap on his head in his profile & put his cover photo as #loveboth.
Jason, the Irish government will continue to sweep abortion under the carpet while knowing that women will continue to travel to England to have one. It’s a typical not in my backyard attitude.
@Titus Groan:
That’s an American case, it has no bearing on the Irish legal system.
@Francis Mc Carthy:
What is wrong with that statement exactly? Are you denying that, when pregnant, a woman is responsible for both her own body and the body of a developing human foetus which will hopefully go on to be a healthy human being?
I do actually agree with abortion in cases of FFA, rape and when there is a pertinent medical threat to the life of the mother. What I don’t agree with, like most Irish people, is unrestricted access to abortion. Most polls on the subject in Ireland agree with that viewpoint.
Oh right so your response is that logic is different continent to continent. Gotcha.
@ Jason : What did you mean by this statement of yours just a few months back ?
“So basically Rosie you believe that a woman should be forced to be an incubator once she becomes pregnant?”
Now ,you are saying that a woman’s body is NOT her body anymore, once she becomes pregnant ? Wow!
You have also said that you are not the biggest fan of abortion but that you support the rights of other people to decide whether they feel it is appropriate in their situation or not. You really are something else,Jason..Jason the gun nut “pro life” dude.Who’d thunk it.
Activists have paid jobs ? Well you learn something new everyday !
Did you read about Alt Youth Defense looking to raise 18k to pay to run a FB page?
@aoife✨: “We ask business owners to consider closing their services for all or part of the day as a solidarity action.”, how disconnected from reality are they, they are asking the owners to shut down their businesses…
The pro abort movement is a dinosaur of the past, the rest of the civilized world are restricting access to abortion.
Now that’s not true and you know it Dean
Trump supporting backwaters civilised?
I felt that limited abortion in the case of fetal abnormalities may be something I could vote for and it was coming along nicely. The Clinton candidacy for president of the USA introduced the concept of abortion of perfectly normal babies on their day of birth. This has turned me off, and sickened voters everywhere and hardened attitudes.
I don’t see a referendum happening in this Dail, and the commie, leftie , green blob, liberals have no one but themselves to blame.
@Val Martin: Oh you do come out with some serious BS..
Hmmm…. no domestic chores for a day? Will the men even notice? And I suppose they’ll just alll have to call a Chinese that night!
@Emma O’Neill: When this happened in Iceland, men ended up having to bring the kids to work for the day, and yes, they ordered a lot of takeout. If you’re used to having a dinner cooked for you, not having one cooked for you is significant.
Artists are going on strike, how will we survive?
Jason I’d be one to fall in the middle and I think a great percentage would be the same the pro choice will have to be careful with the way they speak too and about people who have questions and misgivings I’ve yet to speak to anyone man or woman who want a all out lifting of the law on abortion
@David Clarke:
You’re right Dave, I think that this partisan ‘Pro-Choice’ and ‘Pro-Life’ narrative has only served to obscure the realities of the debate.
According to polls, the majority of Irish people identify as neither. If a referendum were to be held tomorrow, abortion only under medical and other limited circumstances would win by a comfortable margin according to most polls.
I don’t know why these people call themselves “prochoice” because the only “choice” they ever go on about is abortion.
@Emma Murphy: Stupid comment.
We want all woman to have the choice to have an abortion or not, depending on the own woman’s personal circumstances.
We do not want to force anyone to continue with the pregnancy if they don’t want to (like you do). And likewise, we do not want anyone forced to have an abortion, if they wish to continue the pregnancy.
And of course your lot are “pro life” …..the only choice that they don’t presently have in this country,is not having the choice of having an abortion..Do try to keep up..
@Francis Mc Carthy: “do try to keep up”.. this… this is exactly why people are more and more turning against the left, your smugness and self satisfaction at believing you know better than everyone else.
@Emma Murphy: This is like the Gay marriage argument. If you don’t want gay marriage, don’t marry a gay, if you don’t want abortion, don’t have one, but people need to have the choice and the freedom to make it.
@Fred: Yeah,yeah,yeah…’turning against the left’ is an over used cliche at this point.
I will say whatever I want & especially to posters like Emma who have a habit of posting complete BS..
@meatyslaps: What about the baby’s choice for life, who is asking the Baby
@Breas: The foetus is not sentient – so how do you propose we ask it?
They never tire of coming up with pathetic publicity stunts.
I wonder would the feminists and lefties support the right to work in prostitution? My Body , My Rights?
@Emma O’Neill: there’s nothing wrong with someone working in prostitution if it’s their choice – if it’s not, then there’s a whole lot wrong with it, but prostitutes shouldn’t be demonised.
@Emma O’Neill: They support anything that will destroy society and against Christian beliefs
Yes Emma , I, as a feminist absolutely support the right for women to work in prostitution if that is their choice.
Will this referendum give abortion on demand or if a woman life is in danger can someone tell me
@David Clarke:
Nobody knows at this point and that’s what the Citizen’s Assembly is for.
There’s a small but loud section of Irish society calling for abortion on demand. There’s an equally small portion of Irish society calling for an utter ban on all abortion regardless of circumstances. Polls suggest that Irish people fall somewhere in the middle, with support for abortion under limited circumstances (rape, FFA and medical reasons) and opposition to full open access to abortion on demand.
I think that’s a fair balance between the rights of the mother and the rights of the unborn.
@David Clarke: If the 8th Amendment was removed today, it would not legalise abortion immediately – we still have laws and legislation against it.
It would just make it easier for the government to change legislation to allow it in cases such as FFA.
I think regardless of how you feel about abortion, there should be a referendum. It’s a big enough topic/issue in today’s society to merit one. That way there’s a vote and everyone has their say.
@Theunpopularpopulist: is it? really? the only place i routinely see anything about abortion is in the journal, who has a clear agenda. There are far more pressing issues facing the country.
I don’t see why anyone from either side would be against a referendum.
That way, the country has their say.
It’s a very complex and emotive issue for both sides.
Letting the country decide at the ballot box is the fairest way to do this.
It may not be the biggest issue for you but it is for many people. It’s not going to go away.
@Theunpopularpopulist: “It’s a very complex and emotive issue for both sides.”
then why do we only see one side of the story, why is every argument shut down with “her body her rules”, the left don’t realize that not everyone thinks like them and calling everyone who disagrees an idiot doesn’t win you votes, shuts down discourse and actually has the opposite of the desired effect.
After reading the comments here I’m looking forward to when the article is shown on journal’s Facebook page and contrast the comments here to the comments of the Facebook dwellers.
@Maurice Bourke: if there is one thing we know its that sjws like yourself love to get personal information about people and use to contact their employers etc.. if you think any of us are dumb enough to fall into that trap dream on.
As there is no indication this is a troll I will take it as true. I am not sjw. My anti hillary comments and pro egalitarianism ones in the past make that clear. But calling someone a name you think is derogatory and assuming they have bad intentions, Fred, that is what SJWs do.
@Maurice Bourke: if that is the case then i offer an apology, there are many instances of people who are right leaning having their employers contacted, in most cases asking that they be fired. You can not have a disagreement with these snowflakes.
Apology accepted. It was just to see if there was a big difference between the two. I didn’t see it on the Facebook page so can’t compare.
They should all be sacked, how could anyone agree to Murder a baby. If you dont want children , keep your drunken drugged legs shut
You’re an idiot Breas.
Oh dear god no, a general strike how!!!!! Can the unemployed social study graduates actually strike? I wonder whos political career this initiative is trying to prop up?
It really says something about the Anti Racism Network’s knowledge of the genesis of abortion in the US, a short look at the ideas of Margaret Higgins Sanger might reveal a lot, and given that a black foetus has a 50/50 chance of going to term as a result of abortion. This is the legacy Margaret Sanger.
@Joe: Maybe you should take a longer look into the life/work of Margaret Sanger.Might even surprise you.
@Francis Mc Carthy:
Do you mean about her racist eugenicism?
Yeah,she wanted to get rid of them pesky black people.You guys really do crack me up. #lifeshitenews
Did you ever even to stop and think of the era that Margaret Sanger lived and worked in as a nurse?The way that the black person was treated in those times (Jim Crow laws)? She saw that 40,000 black mothers and babies died in childbirth in her country, in just one year alone- needless deaths that could have been avoided by those pregnancies being planned.. What she wanted was for them to have access to BIRTH CONTROL –that it would stop the amount of suffering..no pregnancy=no deaths of mother/child, or both.<- Wasn't that a good thing Joe ?
PS. Margaret Sanger was ANTI ABORTION.
@Francis Mc Carthy:
Yes you are right, she wanted to get rid of those pesky blacks. 100% there Francis.
And still planned Parenthood is still concentrated on black provision.
@Francis Mc Carthy:
“PS. Margaret Sanger was ANTI ABORTION”
“The most merciful thing that a large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it.” Margaret Sanger, Women and the New Race (Eugenics Publ. Co., 1920, 1923)
@Joe: “The most merciful thing that a large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it.” Margaret Sanger, Women and the New Race (Eugenics Publ. Co., 1920, 1923)
Nice try,but no cigar! She wanted to protect women from becoming pregnant because of the risk to their lives & the lives of the born children.Here is a run down of the stats at that time
Deaths During First Year
1st born .23%
2nd ” ” 20%
3rd ” ” 21%
4th ” ” 23%
5th ” ” 26%
6th ” ” 29%
7th ” ” 31%
8th ” ” 33%
9th ” ” 36%
10th ” ” 41%
11th ” ” 51%
12th ” ” 60%
You really have to stop getting your material from bad sources ,Joe -as the majority of Planned Parenthood clinics are situated in white areas ..1 in 10 to be precise..Also,black people are well able to make up their own minds about their bodies…God knows,that choice was taken away from them long enough.But even when it was,they were still finding away of procuring an abortion..
have your say