Matt Merrigan
Encyclopedia
Matthew "Matt" Merrigan was an Irish
socialist and trade union
ist from Dublin, known for his catchphrase "Profits are wages that have not been distributed yet."
Born in Dolphin's Barn
, Merrigan grew up in poverty after the death of his father. He left school at 13 to work, and when he was 15 he started to work in the Rowntree-Mackintosh chocolate factory, where he worked for the next 20 years. He became an Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union (ATGWU) shop steward in the 1930s, rising in 1960 to become the Union's National Secretary in the Republic of Ireland
, a post he held until 1986. He was president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
in 1985. As a trade unionist, he opposed national wage agreements as doing nothing to improve the workers' share of national income.
Merrigan joined the Irish Labour Party
in the 1950s, and unsuccessfully contested the 1954 general election
in Dublin South West
. He did not stand again until the Dublin South West by-election in 1970, when he narrowly missed holding the Labour-held seat, due to the intervention as an independent
candidate of Cora Dunne, widow of Sean Dunne, whose death had triggered the by-election. He opposed the party's formation in 1973 of a coalition government
with Fine Gael
, and as a left-wing critic he was expelled from the party in 1977. He contested the 1977 general election
as an independent
candidate in Dublin Finglas
, but was not elected.
Dr. Noel Browne
, another left-wing critic who had also been expelled from Labour, did win a Dáil
seat at that election, and they were co-founders of the new Socialist Labour Party
, of which Merrigan became chairman. The new party was short-lived, and although Merrigan stood at two further Dáil elections, his share of the vote was tiny.
He remained a vocal critic of the Labour Party's participation in coalitions, and supported protests against the PAYE tax system. He also served as a member of the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
Merrigan died in hospital in Dublin on 15 June 2000, aged 78, after collapsing earlier that day at the ATGWU's conference in Malahide
, County Dublin
. His wife Rose had died some years before, but he was survived by their daughter and two sons — the elder of whom, also called Matt, is an official of the Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical Union (SIPTU).
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
socialist and trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ist from Dublin, known for his catchphrase "Profits are wages that have not been distributed yet."
Born in Dolphin's Barn
Dolphin's Barn
Dolphin's Barn is an inner city suburb of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Southside of the city in the Dublin 8, and partially in the Dublin 12, postal district. Its name derives from a family named Dolphyn who once owned a storehouse there. Surrounding areas include The Liberties, Inchicore,...
, Merrigan grew up in poverty after the death of his father. He left school at 13 to work, and when he was 15 he started to work in the Rowntree-Mackintosh chocolate factory, where he worked for the next 20 years. He became an Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union (ATGWU) shop steward in the 1930s, rising in 1960 to become the Union's National Secretary in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, a post he held until 1986. He was president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions , formed in 1959 by the merger of the Irish Trade Union Congress and the Congress of Irish Unions , is a national trade union centre, the umbrella organisation to which trade unions in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland affiliate.-Influence:There...
in 1985. As a trade unionist, he opposed national wage agreements as doing nothing to improve the workers' share of national income.
Merrigan joined the Irish Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
in the 1950s, and unsuccessfully contested the 1954 general election
Irish general election, 1954
The Irish general election of 1954 was held on 18 May 1954. The newly elected members of the 15th Dáil assembled at Leinster House on 2 June when the new Taoiseach and government were appointed....
in Dublin South West
Dublin South West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin South–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
. He did not stand again until the Dublin South West by-election in 1970, when he narrowly missed holding the Labour-held seat, due to the intervention as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidate of Cora Dunne, widow of Sean Dunne, whose death had triggered the by-election. He opposed the party's formation in 1973 of a coalition government
Government of the 20th Dáil
The 20th Dáil was elected at the 1973 general election on 28 February 1973 and first met on 14 March when the 14th Government of Ireland was appointed...
with Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
, and as a left-wing critic he was expelled from the party in 1977. He contested the 1977 general election
Irish general election, 1977
The Irish general election of 1977 was held on 16 June 1977 and is regarded as a pivotal point in twentieth century Irish politics. The general election took place in 42 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 148 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann. The number of...
as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidate in Dublin Finglas
Dublin Finglas (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin Finglas was a short-lived parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1977 to 1981...
, but was not elected.
Dr. Noel Browne
Noel Browne
Noël Christopher Browne was an Irish politician and doctor. He holds the distinction of being one of only five Teachtaí Dála to be appointed Minister on their first day in the Dáil. His controversial Mother and Child Scheme in effect brought down the First Inter-Party Government of John A...
, another left-wing critic who had also been expelled from Labour, did win a Dáil
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
seat at that election, and they were co-founders of the new Socialist Labour Party
Socialist Labour Party (Ireland)
The Socialist Labour Party was a minor political party in the Republic of Ireland formed under the leadership of Matt Merrigan and Noël Browne, TD in 1977. Another key figure was the radical journalist Brian Trench, now head of the Communications Department at Dublin City University along with...
, of which Merrigan became chairman. The new party was short-lived, and although Merrigan stood at two further Dáil elections, his share of the vote was tiny.
He remained a vocal critic of the Labour Party's participation in coalitions, and supported protests against the PAYE tax system. He also served as a member of the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
Merrigan died in hospital in Dublin on 15 June 2000, aged 78, after collapsing earlier that day at the ATGWU's conference in Malahide
Malahide
Malahide is a coastal suburban town, near Dublin city, located in the administrative county of Fingal, within the traditional County Dublin, Ireland. It has a village-like centre and extensive residential areas to the south, west and northwest.-Name:...
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
. His wife Rose had died some years before, but he was survived by their daughter and two sons — the elder of whom, also called Matt, is an official of the Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical Union (SIPTU).