Confederations unite in protests over austerity

The three trade union confederations came together on 23 September in a demonstration in central Brussels against the austerity policies threatened by the political parties discussing a coalition government. The unions warn of a threat to purchasing power, cuts to public sector pensions as well as cuts to health and social services spending. [Read more at > FGTB (FR)->http://www.fgtb.be/web/guest/news-fr/-/article/2651700/;jsessionid=Rt1uVE-TJaW8JjX_qpaOgFp&p_l_id=10624] [And at > ABVV (NL)->http://www.fgtb.be/web/guest/news-nl/-/article/2652390/&p_l_id=10187] [And at > CSC (FR)->http://www

The three national trade union confederations called a national political strike on 28 January in protest at government plans to weaken important elements of the Work Environment Act. Along with the strike action, the confederations organised demonstrations in hundreds of towns and cities across the country. The unions are concerned about four key changes: telaxation of the rules on temporary contracts; an increase in the limits on contractual overtime; a change in the treatment of working on Sunday so that it becomes almost a normal working day; and removal of the right to take collective

The CGIL, CSIL and UIL trade union confederations organised a joint demonstration on 13 April in protest at government plans to reform the pensions system. The unions point out that billions have already been cut from the system and that public sector workers are set to lose out in particular from the proposed changes. A key change will affect early retirement. [Read more at > FP-CGIL (IT)->http://www.fpcgil.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/22047] [And at > FP-CISL (IT)->http://www.fp.cisl.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2910:manifestazione-sulle-pensioni-bonanni