In the last few weeks Margaret Thatcher has died and the Irish trade union movement has shown signs of revival. That these events have happened simultaneously is particularly fitting given the fact that Thatcher did more than most to smash the power of organised labour.

200 workers have died in a sweatshop collapse in Bangladesh. Garments found in the rubble belong to Penneys, Walmart and other corporate giants.

Workers had left the building after noticing cracks appearing but were forced under threat to go back in. Extra floors had been added to the building, without planning permission, to squeeze in as many workers as possible.

"None of us wanted to go in, the bosses came after us with beating sticks. In the end we were forced to go in." said one worker.

As Union leaders continue to appease the government, former Deputy President of the Civil and Public Services Union, Conor McKinney, outlines two key developments that have helped to undermine the organised labour movement since the 1980’s.

How often have we heard the refrain, 'the Unions have let us down again'? It has been a constant complaint in every workplace, in every meeting and at every protest since the crisis began.

The Croke Park 2 agreement is the worst sell out union leaders have ever done. Although the original Croke Park deal was due to run until June 2014, it was torn up to significantly worsen it.

No union leader has ever allowed an employer to tear up an existing agreement without resistance. But the leaders of the ICTU have collaborated with the government to suggest new ways of cutting workers pay.

This deal needs to be thrown out. But there should also be a vote of no confidence in the leaders who tried to sell it. They should be driven from office for their betrayals.

Hundreds of nurses and midwifes gathered outside the HSE in Dublin today to protest against the drastic cuts to wages for graduates. In 2009 they were paid around €33,000 and now the government wants them to do a full job for 80% of €27,000!

The protesters chanted "leave alone the nurses there's nothing in our purses" and "slave pay no way!" and there was a determination amongst people at the demo to continue the resistance to the destruction of pay and conditions.

Workers at the Old Darnley Lodge, who are on day five of a sit-in at the hotel in Athboy, Co. Meath, have launched a publicity campaign to highlight their call for a meeting with Mitrespor, the managers of the business, who have not been contactable since the premises closed on Wednesday, 16th January.

The workers began distributing an information leaflet today (21st January) in Athboy outlining their situation.

Workers in the Limerick Cruise St branch of HMV have occupied the shop in protest at non payment of wages.

As usual when these big companies fold the workers are put at the end of the list of liabilities. Other businesses line up and get paid out but workers always come last.

The workers in HMV Limerick have taken the exactly right approach- occupy the shop and refuse to move until you get what you deserve. They should not let one single item of stock leave the building until the case is won.

On November 28, 900 members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 63A-OCU (Office Clerical Unit) walked off the job at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in an effort to stop the outsourcing of their jobs.

By the next day, most of the two ports--together, the busiest shipping complex in the U.S.--were shut down when other workers on the docks honored picket lines, including both full-timers and part-timers with ILWU Local 13, the marine clerks of Local 63 and the ports' predominantly nonunion truckers.

Thousands of workers from Misr Spinning in Mahalla al-Kubra protested against the Constitutional Declaration by Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy on Tuesday. Workers rallied as they ended their shift and were joined by townspeople in a march which quickly swelled to more than 5,000 strong.

As the protestors reached Shoun Square in the town centre they were attacked by supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, who threw fireworks at them. The demonstrators answered with stones and molotov cocktails.