Belgian trade union demonstration sees 60,000 on streets of Brussels, police say

Record ID: 102223

  • Title: Belgian trade union demonstration sees 60,000 on streets of Brussels, police say
  • Date: 24th May 2016
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (MAY 24, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING PROTESTERS HOLDING A BANNER READING: "FGTB CATERPILLAR" AND WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (French) RETIRED FORMER TEACHER FROM FLOREFFE IN BELGIUM, ALBERT MABILLE, SAYING: "I cannot accept these policies which privilege the rich to the detriment of the majority of the population, policies which do not look towards the future. We are facing environmental and social problems which are more and more important." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING BLACK FLAG WITH SKULL FLYING AS PROTESTERS MARCH IN THE BACKGROUND PROTESTER WITH RED HAT READING: "CGSP AMIO" WALKING PROTESTER WITH FLARE WALKING VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING (SOUNDBITE) (French) PROTESTER FROM GRACE-HOLLOGNE IN LIEGE, MARIE CLAIRE LEGROS, SAYING: "We are protesting because it's always from the same purses that they come to find money." PROTESTERS MARCHING PROTESTERS HOLDING A RED FLAG READING: "CGSP PRISON ANDENNE NAMUR" VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WALKING AND HOLDING DIFFERENT BANNERS
  • Embargoed: 8th June 2016 12:25
  • Keywords: Brussels protest trade unions demonstration
  • Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
  • City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014J63AYV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Tens of thousands of people protested in Brussels on Tuesday (May 24) against government reform proposals on wages, working hours and raising the retirement age to 67.
    Police said 60,000 demonstrators from trade unions took part in the protest against proposed measures of the government of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, which include scrapping the maximum 38-hour working week and raising it to 45 hours a week.
    "I cannot accept these policies which privilege the rich to the detriment of the majority of the population, policies which do not look towards the future. We are facing environmental and social problems which are more and more important," retired former teacher Albert Mabille told Reuters Television.
    "We are protesting because it's always from the same purses that they come to find money," protester Marie Claire Legros said.
    Tuesday's demonstration is the first in a series of actions planned for the coming months, including a strike on June 24 and on October 7, which marks two years since Michel's government took power.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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