6 Mar '15

Unions threaten more strikes if no deal reached today

Summary

Unions representing several sectors, including transport, police and civil servants, are threatening more strikes such as were seen across Belgium late last year if the Group of 10 doesn’t reach a decision today on changes to pensions, wages and retirement

 

Decision expected

The federal government is bracing itself for a fresh round of industrial action this spring as several large unions have said they are preparing to strike if their demands are not met.

Unions have been in talks with government leaders for months about the impact of several new policies, including skipping automatic wage indexing this year, reforms to the pension system and changes to early retirement regulations that could force older workers to return to work. 

The government insists that the reforms – such as keeping older people working longer – are essential to maintain the country’s social welfare system. But unrest has spread across several key sectors, including metalworking, civil servants, the police and the railways.

Unions are demonstrating in Wetstraat today as discussions take place within the so-called Group of 10, a committee representing employers and unions. Some unions have threatened to strike as early as Monday if an agreement is not reached today.

Photo: The general strike on 15 December shut down Belgium’s transport and saw hundreds of thousands of workers taking to the streets
©Michael Bunel/NurPhoto/Corbis

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Trade unions

The three main trade unions in Flanders are the liberal ACLVB, the socialist ABVV and the Christian ACV. As social partners, the unions represent employees in wage and labour negotiations at different levels. Belgium has one of the highest trade union affiliation rates in the world.
Representative - Whether a company has a union representatives depends on the size of the company and the sector in which it operates. Every four years, private sector workers and employees elect union representatives in the Works Council and Occupational Health and Safety Committee.
Unemployed - Unions are also responsible for the unemployed, taking care of the administration and payment of unemployment benefits.
Social dialogue - The trade unions are financially independent and included in the Belgian overleg (social dialogue) by law.
8

combined staff members of the three main unions

3

Belgian union members in 2008

1 886

ACV is founded

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