Yesterday's march through Dublin city centre by thousands of union members was an impressive show of solidarity with the workers at Irish Ferries.
Although estimates of the attendance varied, gardaí said the fact that Molesworth Street was almost full for the concluding rally indicated that 10,000 were present. While other estimates were somewhat lower, the march preceding the rally made for an impressive sight as it snaked all the way from Liberty Hall to Dawson Street.
Union leaders were quietly pleased that so many workers were prepared to march at short notice for a cause that, in most cases, did not directly affect them.
It is increasingly clear that the Irish Ferries issue, and its wider implications, has caught the attention of workers throughout all sectors of the economy.
Irish Ferries' plan to lay off up to 540 seafarers and replace them with cheaper labour from eastern Europe is the most high-profile example of a company outsourcing employment. But similar actions are being experienced by workers in a range of sectors, including construction, banking and security.
Over the next few weeks, union leaders will attempt to tap into the strong depth of feeling on the issue in discussions with the Government on measures required to maintain employment standards.
First, however, the Irish Ferries dispute returns to the Labour Court on Monday. The court will hear submissions from the company and Siptu before issuing a recommendation, probably within a short timeframe.
Rarely will the court have been asked to adjudicate on a dispute with such far-reaching consequences. Its recommendation and, more to the point, the reaction of Irish Ferries and Siptu to it will have a bearing not only on the future of Irish seafaring jobs but also the future of social partnership.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) has decided not to enter talks on a successor to Sustaining Progress in the absence of sufficient guarantees in advance on measures to prevent exploitation of workers.
Informal discussions with the Government have begun, but in reality little progress can be made until the Irish Ferries situation is resolved.
In this context Taoiseach Bertie Ahern may have some difficult calls to make in the weeks ahead.
In a letter to Ictu president Peter McLoone last month, Mr Ahern said he would expect both Irish Ferries and Siptu to abide by the court's recommendations.
Should the court recommend that the company abandon or modify its outcourcing plan, and should Irish Ferries refuse to do so, the spotlight will be firmly on Mr Ahern.
Unions will want to know whether, in this scenario, the Taoiseach is prepared to back up his condemnation of the company with action to prevent it from acting as planned.
What precisely the Government can do is open to debate. There is a suggestion that it could, for example, introduce a licensing system requiring minimum employment standards of ferry companies using the Irish Sea.
Siptu has retained the services of a maritime lawyer to advise it on what options are open to the Government.
Even if a way through the Irish Ferries issues can be found, union leaders will still require Government assurances on a range of matters - such as resourcing of the labour inspectorate - before partnership talks can even begin.
Little wonder then that Siptu president Jack O'Connor was talking yesterday of further protests before the winter is out.
