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Unions threaten more strikes if no deal reached today
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
Comments
If the state needs older people to go back to work to reduce the burden on the pension system, then why not give them a reduced rate of tax to allow them to keep more of the money they earn and so get more enjoyment out of the bit of life that they might have left?
The locals have come to expect to be put out to grass well before the age of 60, and what's more, many believe it is nothing short of selfish to work longer as it takes the jobs away from young people.
Big brother government produces little baby citizens and these babies are throwing their toys out of the pram. Thank God I'm not paying for this crap any more.