- Title: BELGIUM: EEC OFFICE STAFF CONTINUE STRIKE AND PICKET OUTSIDE COUNCIL BUILDING.
- Date: 11th December 1972
- Summary: 1. GV EEC Council building frontage 0.11 2. MV Groups of strikers in front of entrance beside posters (4 shots) 0.40 3. GV INT. Shopping hall 0.45 4. LV PAN Shelves of Christmas merchandise 0.54 5. SV Small girl looking in window 0.56 6. MV Childrens toys displayed on shelves 1.10 EEC Council building; picketing strikers and posters; shelves of Christmas merchandise; small girl looking at toys. Initials SGM/2324 SGM/2345 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 26th December 1972 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brussels, Belgium
- Country: Belgium
- Reuters ID: LVA33X1M6DYAZ2BEE5CEHU845O30
- Story Text: Over six thousand "eurocrats"....European Economic Community (EEC) civil servants....struck in support of wage claims in Brussels on Monday (11th December). Last-minute preparations for the enlargement of the Common Market at the end of the month were brought to a halt and meetings of expert groups and committees, called to help finalise the technical adjustments needed before Britain, Ireland and Denmark join the Community on 1st January, were cancelled abruptly. The Striking officials stopped work after week-long salary negotiations broke down on Saturday (9 December). Although the strike is described as indefinite, its expected to end automatically when the "eurocrats" begin their end-of-year holidays on 21 December, but in reality the stoppage will be effective until the New Year. Several groups of strikers have picketed outside the Council building, some with posters and banners.
SYNOPSIS: The EEC Council building in Brussels, where over six thousand civil servant officials, or "eurocrats" as they're known, have gone on strike in support of wage claims. Several groups of strikers were on Monday morning picketing outside the entrance to the Council Building. The striking officials stopped work after week-long salary negotiations broke down on Saturday. They've described the strike as "indefinite", and are unlikely to return to work before the New Year, after their seasonal holidays.
The shopping centre, specially built to cater for the EEC staff, did not show signs of increased business after the start of the strike. Its shelves are crammed with every type of merchandise.
While some parents took their children to see Christmas toys, the meetings of expert groups and committees, called to help finalise the technical adjustments necessary before the Community is enlarged on 1st January, were being swiftly cancelled.
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