European workers to down tools in Iraq protest

A European trade union organisation has called on the 60 million workers it represents to stop work tomorrow to protest against possible war in Iraq. Wim Bergans, spokesman for the European Trade Union Confederation, said he expected union members...

A European trade union organisation has called on the 60 million workers it represents to stop work tomorrow to protest against possible war in Iraq.

Wim Bergans, spokesman for the European Trade Union Confederation, said he expected union members across Europe to stop work for a symbolic 10 or 15 minutes around 12:00 p.m. (1100 GMT). He said he did not know how many workers would take part.

"We will walk in the streets, make some noise and explain why we are in the streets," Bergans said of plans by staff at ETUC's headquarters in Brussels.

ETUC's executive committee passed a resolution last week calling for the peaceful disarmament of Iraq.

Its Web site lists planned action in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark and Belgium.

In a separate action, the European Transport Workers' Federation has called on railway workers to strike tomorrow against possible reduction in job security by on-going liberalisation of the European Union's rail network.

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