New national protest planned for 12 May

Another demonstration against federal government reforms is being planned for Tuesday 12 May in Brussels.

The protest is part of a trade union action plan that has been under way for the past year and a half against changes which critics say will weaken social protection for those in need.

With the support of a coalition of civil society organisations, trade unions are calling on the federal government to look for revenue-raising measures instead of slashing social services.

“The workers of this country have contributed enough to the effort,” unions said in a joint statement.

“It’s time to seriously consider a fair contribution from those with the ‘broadest shoulders’.”

The CSC, FGTB and CGSLB unions condemn a pension reform that they said would impoverish workers, as well as an ‘attack’ on automatic wage indexation against a backdrop of soaring energy prices since the start of the war in the Middle East.

In March, the last protest brought together between 80,000 and 100,000 people on the streets of Brussels.

The protest caused disruption across Belgium, particularly affecting public transport, prisons, public services and waste collection.