Met Office picket line

Most of the public sector came to a standstill today as workers mounted pickets at their workplaces and government offices around the country, with the exemption of those involved in frontline assistance in areas devastated by flooding in the south and west.

The Irish Times has a list of the services that were effected – basically everything but essential services and public transport were simply not available today. Representing unions have ended the day of strike with the announcement of a further day of protest and strike action on Thursday next, December 3rd if no deal is reached during talks with government.

During the day the ASTI were put in the media spotlight as it emerged the union had instructed members to picket schools only from 8.30am to 10am. The efforts of striking workers was further tarnished as AA Roadwatch reported increased volumes of traffic headed northbound on the motorway with shop owners in Newry reporting a noticeable increase in customer numbers.

Protest counter goes up to 17.