Education and prison sectors join strike action against federal pension plans
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After railway personnel first announced a strike against the planned pension reforms by federal government negotiators, several other sectors have since joined this union action on Monday 13 January. Education and prison staff, amongst others, are also taking part in the strike.
Federal government negotiators from the parties N-VA, MR, Les Engagés, Vooruit and CD&V discussed the pensions part of the socio-economic reforms on Wednesday and Thursday. Those pension plans have already caused so much concern that a national strike will take place on Monday. There is amongst others a demonstration planned at the “Pensions Tower” in Brussels.
Les Engagés leader Maxime Prévot said on Thursday night to French-speaking public broadcaster RTBF that it is bizarre to strike already while the new government has not yet been formed, but admitted that the pension plans will include “measures that will inevitably upset some people”. “I am not sure that in the current context we can afford to retire at 55,” he added.
The railway unions were the first to announce an action against the proposed measures, a 24-hours strike from 22.00 on 12 January. According to them, the current plans will lead to lower pensions, longer careers, delayed retirement and worse end-of-career. During the railway strike, there is a minimum service and the adjusted train schedule will be announced 24 hours in advance. Public transport in Brussels will also be affected.
Strike in education
The education unions, amongst others, announced in recent days that they will participate in the action day. The unions are worried about a possible new method of calculating the civil service pension by the future federal government. According to socialist union ACOD, this would lead to a loss of between 200 and 400 euros for future pensioners.
The strike in education is likely to have a particular impact on primary education in Flanders, according to a survey by VLVO, the Association of Flemish Education Managers (VLVO). In as many as 35 per cent of primary schools, the school gate is likely to remain closed. It is harder to make statements about secondary education, as fewer education managers completed the survey, but the results indicate that 16 per cent of Flemish secondary schools will be on strike. In principle, schools still have to provide emergency care, unless they are forced to close down completely due to lack of staff.
Today, Friday, prison staff also announced that they will join the action in Brussels on Monday. According to the socialist union, the current plans will not only affect the current prison staff, but will also make it even more difficult to recruit new staff.
Illustration © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE
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