In 2012, the number of restructurings, bankruptcies and job losses in Belgium boomed, and so has the number of strikes. Unions are multiplying actions and yet having a hard time getting heard. The latest issue of the daily paper published by the Crisp (Center for socio-political research and information) analyzes this upsurge in social protest, which also comes from the complicated Belgian political system. In a context of social disputes – and their impact – spreading at European level, some union activists and leaders are calling for a search for wages to turn the current crisis into a ‘solidarity booster’ in order to be stronger against employers’ attacks and austerity policies. (Ref. 130304)
Origins of the anger. Belgium has been somewhat spared by the global economic stagnation, because of the social dampers used as early as 2008 (early retirement or short-time working for blue-collar workers, etc)… until now. And unions and their affiliates are not liking this, thus multiplying actions – sometimes strong-armed – to defend their interests. Demonstrations, strikes, lockouts, detentions… in the first half of 2012 alone, there were 290,442 days of strike. And in 2011, there...
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