The trade union organizations also claim to want “higher” pensions, “good working conditions throughout one’s career”, “shorter careers in the event of difficult work”, “employer social contributions commensurate with needs”. ” and “the end of unconditional gifts to companies”. Finally, the common front demands “a space for real social consultation”.
To support these demands, a demonstration is planned for Monday at 10 a.m. from Place de l’Albertine, in Brussels. Speeches and testimonies will be delivered upon arrival of the event, Place Poelaert.
Strong disruptions at the Stib and Tec level, SNCB will communicate on Saturday
The joint front action will have consequences for public transport users since the Stib expects major disruptions on its network on Monday January 13. In Wallonia, Tec also announces disruptions and recommends that its travelers consider an alternative solution for their travel. The Tec will be able to inform travelers of the canceled routes on the morning of Monday January 13, subject to the information that reaches it.
For its part, SNCB will communicate its adapted transport plan on Saturday. The railway union organizations have in fact filed a strike notice which runs from January 12, 10 p.m. to January 13 at the same time in order to allow union members to participate in the union action dedicated to pensions.
Bpost impacted, schools in Flanders too
A strike notice also concerns bpost where the distribution of parcels and mail could, if necessary, suffer from union action.
In the north of the country, the union movement will also be felt in schools. The Christian and socialist teachers’ unions have in fact announced that they will be on strike on Monday.
In the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, on the other hand, the unions will not in principle participate in the January 13 movement but the common union front, with strong winds against the program decree of the government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, has already drawn up a plan to actions for the month of January which includes work stoppages in educational establishments during the week of January 20. The common front also announced the filing of an unlimited strike notice, “in order to cover local actions which will be organized and coordinated regionally”.
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The FEF requests the postponement of exams scheduled for January 13
The federation of French-speaking students (FEF) demanded on Thursday the postponement of exams scheduled for Monday in higher education given the announced strike movement, particularly in public transport.
“If the FEF strongly supports the union mobilizations against the future Arizona government, it calls on higher education establishments to show responsibility by postponing the exams scheduled for that day,” the organization indicates in a press release.
“The announced disruptions risk preventing many students from going to their exam locations, thus compromising their academic success,” adds the FEF. “The responsibility of establishments is to allow each student to take their exams in fair conditions. The regulatory framework allows in the event of force majeure to postpone an exam,” argues Adam Assaoui, the new president of the FEF.
-The more than 200,000 French-speaking higher education students began their traditional January exam period on Monday, which will last until the end of this month.
Bruxelles-propreté services risk being disrupted
Bruxelles-propreté indicates Thursday that its services will most likely be disrupted on Monday due to the day of joint union front action and the demonstration which will be organized in the capital. “Waste collection tours risk suffering from the situation,” estimates the regional organization.
Bruxelles-propreté still invites residents and traders in municipalities collected on Mondays to present their trash bags according to the collection schedule. If the bags are not collected, it is advisable to leave them in front of the place of residence, given that catch-up tours will be organized “depending on the human resources available”, if necessary.
Other services such as waste collections in containers from traders or building residents, Recyparks, Proxy Chimik tours or even home collections of bulky items will also potentially be affected by the disruptions.
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The Flemish CGSP is concerned about the capacity to transport demonstrators to Brussels
Bringing demonstrators to Brussels, in view of the joint union front demonstration for pensions scheduled for Monday, could prove problematic, the Flemish socialist union ACOD worried on Thursday.
According to its president, Chris Reniers, many more people than the 5,000 expected demonstrators have expressed their desire to participate in the demonstration. The procession will reach Place Poelaert on Monday from Place de l’Albertine. “The subject lives enormously. But we will not have everyone in Brussels,” essentially believes Chris Reniers.
According to the union, the desire to strike is very strong at SNCB, which will have consequences on the transport plan. In addition, the number of buses would also be insufficient to transport the demonstrators to Brussels.
The railway workers are very worried about their pension and a strike notice has been filed to allow them to take part in the union action, the ACOD still emphasizes. A letter from the CEO of Infrabel, the railway network manager, inviting staff to think carefully about possible participation in the strike, would not have helped anything, according to Chris Reniers. “Disrespectful and unacceptable”, storms the Flemish union in reaction to this missive.
