Trade unions announce three strike days in November

Belgium’s three main trade unions are stepping up their protests against government policies. Following the large turnout at last week’s demonstration, three new strike days have been planned for November.

On Monday 24 November, the unions are calling for a railway strike. The following day, a strike across all public services will take place, as previously announced. Finally, on Wednesday 26 November, a nationwide strike across all sectors is scheduled. The unions - ABVV, ACV and ACLVB - describe the three-day campaign as "a powerful appeal" to the government "to stop the social dismantling" and adjust its policies.

Despite the massive demonstration, we received no response

On 14 October, the day of the most recent demonstration, the unions sent a letter to prime minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) and the deputy prime ministers. "Despite the massive demonstration, we received no response," they said. According to the police, 80,000 people took to the streets in protest against the government’s measures, making it the largest demonstration in years. The unions claimed 120,000 participants.

The unions are particularly angered by the government’s discussions on a potential wage index freeze, further pension cuts, and a VAT hike. "The chaos surrounding the pension measures is immense. More than half of the women in our country will be affected by the pension penalty. The government has already proposed many harsh and unjust interventions regarding flexibility and working hours," the unions stated.

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They argue that credible alternatives exist, such as a serious and fair tax on wealth, a digital services tax on tech giants and thorough, transparent audits of corporate subsidies. They also demand that all wages contribute to social security.

Meanwhile, the federal government is still struggling to get its affairs in order and come up with 10 billion euros in savings. The coalition parties are due to resume budget talks, but it remains unclear when the negotiations will conclude. De Wever reportedly aims to reach an agreement by Thursday morning, two days later than planned, just before attending a European summit. Whether a policy statement will follow, and when, is still under discussion.

^{#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE}

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