The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) called a demonstration in Brussels on 21 March. The demo, backed by the three main Belgian trade unions, was meant to be a protest against the GATS agreements in the World Trade Organisation. The trade unions however decided to turn the demo in an anti-war action.

30,000 protest in response to Brussels trade unions’ call

The union youth also appealed to young people to join in the demo. The CWI in Belgium (LSP/MAS) supported this appeal and campaigned amongst youth. At the ULB (French-speaking Brussels University) the anti-war committee, in which our members are very active, had built for a strike. The whole university closed down!

The union action was a success with 30,000 on the demo. The public transport workers in Gent went on strike to be able to participate in the demo.

LSP/MAS was on the demo. We ran a stall. We sold 111 papers, but do not have final tally yet. We also sold 52 anti-war T-shirts.

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