Belgium, EPSU Collective Bargaining News

The three trade union confederations organised a strongly supported general strike on 15 December. The action came following the massive national demonstration in November and regional strikes on 1 and 8 December. The unions are protesting at the austerity measures proposed by the government including an increase in the retirement age, cuts to social benefits and freezes of public sector pay. [Read solidarity message at > EPSU->http://www.epsu.org/a/11005] [Read more at > FGTB (FR)->http://www.fgtb.be/web/guest/home-fr] [And more at > ABVV (FR)->http://www.fgtb.be/web/guest/home-nl] [And more

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

The CGSP/ACOD public services federation has called for a national strike on 22 April. The union will be protesting against government changes to pensions, the statutes covering public sector workers and the failure to recruit new workers. In the meantime the common front of the three confederations is organising a number of mobilisations around the country in protest at government policies on public finances and public services. [Read more at > Le Soir newspaper (FR)->http://www.lesoir.be/819904/article/actualite/belgique/2015-03-12/cgsp-appelle-greve-generale-22-avril] [And at > RTBF media

The CGSP/ACOD public service federation (part of the FGTB confederation) has called a national strike in the public services in protest at government policy. The unions is strongly opposed to the increase in pension age and other changes that reduce pension benefits. It is also protesting over the public sector pay freeze and policy of not replacing only one in five civil servants who leave. The union also wants to see an increase in public investment. The CSC has not taken a decision to strike on the same day but has sent a circular to its members to say they can join the stoppage if they

Trade unions in the non-profit sector, including in particular health and social services, have organised a demonstration in Brussels for 19 June. The key demands include no more austerity for the sector, support for quality employment, an end to commercialisation of services and investment in the sector as a contribution to economic recovery. [Read more at > CNE (FR)->http://www.cne-gnc.be/index.php?m=145&n=2897] [And at > BBTK/SETCA (NL)->http://www.bbtk.org/nieuws/Pages/15014-ABVV_SP_Actie_19_mei-A4-affiche.pdf] [And at > lbc-nvk (NL)->https://lbc-nvk.acv-online.be/lbc-nvk/Ik-werk/Non

CGSP Admi Press ReleaseThe CGSP/ACOD and SLFP/VSOA public service federations have called a general strike for 24 June in protest against austerity measures that are affecting pay, pensions and jobs. The unions are highlighting the impact of cuts on the quality and quantity of public services and underlining the link between maintaining those services and protecting the pay and conditions of the workers who deliver them. [Read more at > ACOD (NL)->http://www.acodonline.be/Artikels/Nieuws.Aspx?nr=3684] [And at > VSOA (NL)->http://www.vsoa.eu/publicaties/nieuws/vakbonden-openbare-diensten-voeren

Unions organising in the non-profit sector in French speaking community have called a demonstration in Brussels on 27 March to argue for further investment in the sector which includes many key health and social services. The unions, with the support of some employers, are concerned that the government doesn't recognise the contribution that the sector makes not just in terms of vital services but also to the economy as a whole. The fact that the non-profit sector doesn't clearly feature in government plans leaves the unions concerned about cutback that will lead to job cuts, worsening

The three main trade union organisations in the public sector have called a national demonstration of federal civil servants for Thursday 7 February. The will be protesting against plans by civil service minister Hendrik Bogaert to make major changes to the system of career progression. The unions argue that Bogaert is talking about abolishing the system of training and examinations that are the basis of the current system without being clear about what he wants in its place. The unions are distributing 50000 postcards so that members can send their protests direct to the minister. [Read more

Legislation came into effect on 1 September aimed at tackling stress and burnout. It requires employers to monitor pyschosocial risks and take measures to prevent them. Along with risk analysis, employers will have to provide counselling to employees to help them avoid prolonged exposure to stress. The legislation sets out the responsibilities of the various actors at the workplace and the measures that can be taken to prevent psychosocial risks. [Read more at > euractiv.com (EN)->http://www.euractiv.com/sections/social-europe-jobs/eu-asked-prevent-burnout-among-civil-servants-308437] [And

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

Unions organising workers in the non-profit sector have called for a major national demonstration on 8 June in protest at the failure of the federal, community and regional governments to undertake meaningful negotiations. The unions are calling for a range of measures to improve purchasing power and employment conditions and increase employment in a sector that delivers a range of health and social services. [Read more at > SETCA (FR)->http://www.setca.org/News/Pages/lenonmarchandpassealaction.aspx] [And at > BBTK (NL)-> http://www.bbtk.org/nieuws/Pages/DeSocialProfitgaattotactieover.aspx]

The three confederations are coordinating a series of protests and strikes against the new government's proposed austerity budget. The union argue that the budget is socially unjust, with workers' paying the price and no attempt to get the wealthy and high-paid to make a large contribution. Unions are concerned about the threat to the wage indexation system, the scope to negotiate pay increases and plans to increase the retirement age to 67. A national demonstration on 6 November will be followed by regional strikes on 25 November and 1 December and a general strike on 15 December. [Read more