Union leaders urge support of anti-war march

Trade Union leaders joined the Irish Anti-War Movement today in opposing the looming conflict in the Gulf.

Trade Union leaders joined the Irish Anti-War Movement today in opposing the looming conflict in the Gulf.

Trade Union leaders joined the Irish Anti-War Movement today in opposing the looming conflict in the Gulf.

Mr David Begg, General Secretary of ICTU, Mr Jack O'Connor, Vice President of SIPTU and Mr Brendan Archibold from the ICTU Solidarity Committee, joined Mr Richard Boyd Barrett, the Chairperson of the Irish Anti-War movement at a press conference in Dublin.

The leaders called for support of the international day of action - due to take place in cites throughout the world - on Saturday, February 15th.

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Mr Boyd Barret said he expects up to 20,000 people to take to the streets of Dublin to demonstrate their opposition to a war on Iraq.

Mr Begg said he was "strongly convinced the war is very wrong" and the "case for war on human, legal and strategic grounds was not justified".

Meanwhile, Mr O'Connor said he was "offended by the double standards applied in regards to UN resolutions." He said that his union's executives voted to affiliate to the anti-war movement, and he is urging members to support the march.

Luke Cassidy

Luke Cassidy

Luke Cassidy is Digital Production Editor of The Irish Times