Belgium
The three main trade unions - CGSP/ACOD, ACV/CSC and SLFP/VSOA - organised a 48-hour national strike from 6am on 24 September in protest at proposals to relax the rules on prisoner visits. The unions are extremely concerned that the proposed changes come at a time of increasing infection and pose a serious threat to staff and inmates.
Around 2,400 members of the PCS civil service union took two days’ of strike action in protest at call targets set by management. The employees work for the Job Centre Plus part of the Department of Work and Pensions and they argue that the targets put them under excessive pressure while failing to take account of the level of service provided to enquirers who may have serious worries about their welfare benefits. Read more at > PCS
The STAL municipal service union organised a two-day strike across the FCC Environment waste group on 15-16 August. The union says that the company is refusing to negotiate on pay, claiming that its financial situation prevents it from offering a pay increase to workers. The union says that urgent action is needed to tackle low pay and the impact of inflation and wants to see a minimum monthly increase of €90, along with negotiations on better working conditions and health and safety and a consistent approach across the whole company.
ADEDY the public sector union confederation and the GSEE private sector confederation called a general strike 26 September in protest at further austerity measures and in particular a leaked 'confidential' Troika letter calling on the government to further reduce the minimum wage and the earlier demand for a six-day work week, longer working hours, a yet shorter notice period and less severance pay. The GENOP energy union is also planning a series of 48-hour strikes in protest at austerity and privatisation. Read more at > ADEDY (GR) And at > GENOP (GR)
