Belgium: social election launched

Economic crisis.  After two weeks mobilizing, Belgian unions rejoiced with the rise in the number of candidates for the social election.  This increase is greatly due to the economic context.  The socialist union, the FGTB, has 55,000 candidates – 5,000 more than in 2008.  “We’re the only organizations in Europe where the number of candidates has increased.  This is because of the economic situation and the fact that union organizations remain major roleplayers in Belgium, where we have important safety nets to avoid going down the path of austerity” Anne Demelenne, FGTB general secretary, told Planet Labor. 
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s increased. This is because of the economic situation and the fact that union organizations remain major roleplayers in Belgium, where we have important safety nets to avoid going down the path of austerity” Anne Demelenne, FGTB general secretary, told Planet Labor.

Challenge. The ballot, which takes place every four years in Belgium, is for the election of the members of works councils (WC) and of the Committees for Prevention and Protection at Work (Comités pour la prévention et la protect

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