40,000 people took part in national union demonstration in Brussels
Around 40,000 people took part in the national trade union demonstration in Brussels on Tuesday. The protest passed off without any major incidents. The trade unions criticised the fact that the federal government is implementing reforms without social consultation and denounced what they call “social dismantling”.
This was already the sixth time since 2025 that the ACV, ABVV and ACLVB trade unions have rallied their members to march through the streets of Brussels in protest against the current federal government. There have also been a number of national and regional strikes during that period. Altogether, this amounts to ten major protests against the policies of the De Wever government.
The demonstration ended around 1.15 pm and passed without major incidents. However, as the protesters passed the offices of the governing MR party, loud shouts and various slogans mocking MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez could be heard. Several protesters threw smoke bombs, firecrackers and eggs at the MR headquarters.
"You cannot reform solely on the basis of budgetary tables. There are people behind those figures"
The chairman of the liberal trade union ACLVB, Gert Truyens, strongly criticised the fact that the government is implementing reforms without social consultation. “You cannot reform solely on the basis of budgetary tables. There are people behind those figures. We want to give those people a face through social dialogue,” said Truyens. But that social dialogue is being “completely disregarded” by the government, he added.
That is why, according to Truyens, it is important to continue taking action. Under pressure from these actions, adjustments have already been made, for example to the pension reform. “Little by little, it is starting to sink in with politicians,” stated the ACLVB chairman, who also wants to use a petition to force the government to listen to them in Parliament.
"There is no money for pensions and benefits, but there seems to be no limit when it comes to weapons"
His colleague from the socialist trade union ABVV, Bert Engelaar, denounced what he called “social dismantling”. “A pensioner becomes a cost, a sick person becomes a budgetary problem. We will not accept that,” he said. He also criticised military spending. “There is no money for pensions and benefits, but there seems to be no limit when it comes to weapons.” The ABVV leader assured that the fight would continue even after the summer.
As announced, around half of the flights at Brussels Airport were cancelled, due to a strike by some of the security screening staff and baggage handlers. On Tuesday morning, Brussels Airport also faced additional disruption due to a gas leak, which closed the access road to and from the airport for around an hour and a half. This caused traffic jams and led to delays for around ten flights, as airlines waited for late passengers wherever possible.
National demonstration organised by the three national trade unions on 12 May 2026 in Brussels © BELGA PHOTO MARIUS BURGELMAN & © BELGA VIDEO MAARTEN WEYNANTS
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