No to cuts in public spending - 29 september demo, Brussels

The ETUC has called for public spending to be maintained and that governments should not be looking for exit strategies until it is clear that a recovery is really underway. The ETUC was putting forward its arguments at the Macroeconomic Dialogue where it meets with the European employers, European Central Bank, European Commission and Council of Ministers. The Confederation also warned that pay cuts would not help the economic recovery and the more labour flexibility and precarious employment would not be a long-term solution to the crisis. [Read more at > ETUC (EN)->http://www.etuc.org/a

Around 2000 public service workers from the three public service federations (CGSP, CSC and SLFP) joined a demonstration outside the ministrey of pensions on 21 January. In response to the specific attacks on public service workers, the federations decided to maintain their actions even while negotiations continue at cross-sector level. The unions managed to get a hearing with the pensions minister who, however, continued to argue the case for the government's pensions and other public spending cutbacks. [Read more at > Le Soir newspaper (FR)->http://www.lesoir.be/763875/article/actualite