Image of the Worker. Remembering 50 years of KWB.

Here we see an image of a futuristic figure in a contrived movement as we imagine a robot. The artist is unknown to us. But the inscription is clear: '1944 – 1994 - 50 years KWB'. The Christian Workers' Movement is a socio-cultural association for employees within the Christian Workers' Movement (ACW) from Belgium. KWB was founded in the thirties of the twentieth century when there was a demand for an adapted framework of Catholic Action for adult men. The first workers' unions were founded by former Kajotters. During the German occupation, the work of ACW and especially of the trade union ACV was made impossible, and the organization had to limit its activities to training and socio-cultural activities. For this reason, in January 1941 ACV and ACW temporarily transformed themselves into the Christian Workers' Union, abbreviated 'K.W.B.'. From 1941 onwards, KWB branches were set up all over Flanders. After the liberation of 1944-45, the ACW and ACV activities restarted and there was the debate about the future of the war. In 1946 it was decided to rename KWB the Catholic Workers' Union with its own status under the umbrella of the ACW.

We use the abbreviation KWB all the time, but since 2008 the name 'kwb' has been written in lowercase letters. The acronym is no longer an abbreviation but became a brand name. From that moment on, kwb is not only aimed at male employees, but also at families in its broadest context.

Jan Rymenams