STAGE TOKEN STRIKE
BRUSSELS, Feb. 23 == Some 250,000 Belgian metal workers stopped work yesterday for a few hours to hear representatives of both their Socialist and Catholic unions appeal for a campaign to get an immediate wage increase of four and a half percent. The employers have refused to negotiate.
The unions decided to follow up the token strike by rejecting any more overtime work and by preparing for stronger action against the bosses.
The demand of the metal workers comes at an awkward moment for the reformist-Catholic coalition government which is seeking to push sntistrike legislation through parliament (a so-called "law for the maintenanee of public order"). This reactionary legislative effort is reaching its final and decisive stage just as the Socialist party meeps in a special March 2 congress to determine its attitude toward the proposed new law. a
Refornist leaders fear that the demands of the metal workers and their preparations for further strike action will meet with a favorable responses in wider circles of the working class and thus etrengthen the campaign of the left-wing opposition against the antistrike law. at ;
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The first issue of a new monthly trade-union paper Union Voice appeared ix, Great Britain in February.’ Backed by an importan sector of left-wing trade unionists and Labour party members, it Gounts anoug its‘sponsors. thirteen members of Parliament; two members of the Labour party executive committee (Anthony Greenwood and tan Mikardo); and, such well-known trade-unionists as Ernie Roberts, assistant general secretary of the Amalgamated Engineering union; Bob edwards, general secretary of the Chemical ‘Workers union; John
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The afme | of the paper are summed up in three points 2 |
(1) The election of e Labour government as soon as possible,
(2) The imp¥GaeRtation of Clause IV of the Labor party constitution (calling for public ownership of the means of production, distribution adi exchange). BOF iccly
(3) The establishment of world peace and socialism.
The address of Vaion Voice is Hrs.E, Roberts, 43 Copers Cope Road, ‘Bookenhan, Kent. A twelve-nonths subscription is tine shillings ($415). 3
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