Conflict flares again in Belgium

The refusal of the Belgian government to implement part of the agreement reached by employers and unions at the end of January has produced a hostile response from the unions.

The agreement, signed by the employers and two of Belgium’s three union confederations, fixed pay increases for the next two years as well as dealing with a number of other issues (see Labour Research, March 2015, page 8).

One of these was early retirement, and on this the government has said that it will not accept the proposals from the two sides. It insists instead that more of those already in retirement should be required to look for work.

All three union confederations have now rejected the government changes and plan to oppose them. Maria Hélène Ska, general secretary of the CSC, union confederation, described the government’s decision as a provocation.