Not all uniforms are blue

[An archist]

29 september, there was a European demonstration against austerity measures in Brussels, organized by trade unions.

About 100.000 people attendend. Several hundred people wanted to join an anti-capitalist bloc in the protest. They were stopped by riotcops, while union officials urged protesters to leave the cops alone because 'cops are workers too, let them do their job'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IU7PIk6kV4

[Crux]

That's a fucking disgrace. But what else to expect from a union bureaucrat?

[this is an invasion]

Unions are the worst.

[An archist]

On the other hand, it was nice to see several ordinary union militants masking up when they saw what was happening.

[An archist]

Oh, and we have to stay fair, the socialist union leader just released a statement saying that the arrests were unacceptable.
Of course this hardly makes up for their behavior during the protest.

(in dutch): http://www.dewereldmorgen.be/artikels/2010/10/06/abvv-aanpak-no-border-activisten-onaanvaardbaar

[ContrarianLemming]

Typical union, we want more IWW's!

[Sam_b]

Typical union, we want more IWW's!

Which would solve what, exactly? Unless significantly less bargaining power is what you strive for in an organisation.

[Eastside Revolt]

Absolutely fucking disgusting!!

[bricolage]

The video is quite long, where do I have to go to to see the juicy bits?

[LebenIstKrieg]

'cops are workers too, let them do their job' that's quite a strange thing to say.

[Obs]

29 september, there was a European demonstration against austerity measures in Brussels, organized by trade unions.

About 100.000 people attendend. Several hundred people wanted to join an anti-capitalist bloc in the protest. They were stopped by riotcops, while union officials urged protesters to leave the cops alone because 'cops are workers too, let them do their job'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IU7PIk6kV4
Their job happens to be beating the shit out of me. Thanks, but no thanks.

[Niccolò Rossi]

that's quite a strange thing to say.

No, I think it's a pretty expected thing to hear from union officials.

Nic.

[Ocean Seal]

'cops are workers too, let them do their job'
I could understand this in a general sense, but as riot cops!!!!!!! That doesn't make any sense. What the hell is wrong with these union types. The riot cops are working to stop the workers from rising up and accomplishing something. Its a completely unreasonable statement coming from anyone. I mean you don't have to be leftist or anti-authoritarian to understand why the workers would resist the RIOT cops during a strike.

[Q]

We also reported this a few days back (http://socialisten.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1258:politierepressie-in-brussel-350-arrestanten&catid=30:solidariteit&Itemid=76). It is indeed a fucking disgrace and should lead to workers asking how their unions are organised. Furthermore it shows perfectly well that the union security service wasn't there to protext the demo, but to protect "their own". A completely unprincipled and treacherous thing to do.

I'm quite pissed over this and hope these scabs get ousted from our movement asap :mad: