National general strike in Belgium rejects austerity
Dec 16, 2014
The largest industrial action in Belgium for 20 years was
conducted jointly on 15 December by the country’s two union confederations,
FGTB-ABVV and ACV-CSC. The historic general strike brought transport and
businesses to a standstill as workers loudly protested against deep government
austerity measures.
Prime Minister Charles Michel was sworn into office in
October, forming a government of the New Flemish Alliance (NVA) and Reformist
Movement (MR). The centre-right coalition is introducing wide-ranging austerity
cuts that will dramatically reduce the quality of life for working people in
Belgium.
This 24-hour general strike on 15 December was part of a
month of rolling actions and strikes across regions and industrial sectors.
The proposed austerity measures being protested by the huge
general strike include:
•Wage freeze - effectively a 2 per cent pay decrease in real
terms.
•Wealth transfer to business of 4 billion Euros, through
cuts to employer contributions to social security.
•Ban on collective bargaining for wages for the next two
years.
•Raising the retirement age to 67 from 2030.
•Reducing unemployment and pension benefits.
•Large increases in childcare costs, higher education fees
and healthcare costs.
•An overall retrenchment of state spending by 11 billion
Euros, nearly 3 per cent of GDP.
Listen to these union members explain their reasons for
striking on 15 December. A Facebook account is needed to access these videos. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=vb.171238582919259&type=2
IndustriALL General Secretary Raina stated in his solidarity
letter to Belgian affiliates:
Your global trade union stands with you shoulder to shoulder
throughout this month of action, and particularly on Monday 15 December in your
united general strike. When all of your trade unions in Belgium fight together,
with the FGTB-ABVV and ACV-CSC confederations uniting all workers, your action
will get the world’s attention.
Prime Minister Michel’s austerity programme received support
during the 15 December general strike from the International Monetary Fund
(IMF). The IMF mission chief Edward Gardner, concluded his annual review on the
day of the massive strike by describing the pace of austerity changes as
“adequate” and calling for change to Belgians’ “generous access to social
transfers”.
The IndustriALL Executive Committee, meeting in Tunis on 4-5
December, resolved to fully support the Belgian Sisters and Brothers at this
time of confrontation. The IndustriALL Executive particularly criticized the
government’s lack of dialogue with unions before pushing through the drastic
cuts.
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