On Wednesday the 3lst of October about 60,000 workers in Belfast shipyards aircraft, engineoring and textile works downed tools in protest against mounting unemployment. In the afternoon, 20,000 workers took part in a march to the Parliamont buildings, tradition being waived by allowing the marchers to eo along the mile drive to Parliament. The demonstration was organised jointly by the Confederation of Shipbuilding and ingineering Unions and the Irish Congress of Trades Unions! Northern committee. ‘Speakers included jiir. A Barr, president of the Vonfed . COMMENT: (The following was sent by a Northdru Irsland correspondent before the demonstration had taken place -— 3d. Note)
Next Wednesday there will be a mass demonstration in Belfast. Over 50,000 arc to go on an afternoon strike to protest about redundancy and unemployment that exists here, It is a great pity that no Labour M.P.s from .mgland such as Sydney Silverman or liichael Foot could come over to speak to the mene The economic situation has got worse here and there will be mors pay-offs to come in the near future. Almost 8% of the working population are unemployed. If it was as high as this in sngland there would be calls for a socialist Government. The Unionist Government here must be one of the most reactionary in Europe. The Unionist Party still will not allow catholics to join. So the catholics support the Nationalists.