BELGIUM: Belgium's first general strike in almost two decades paralyses the country in an anti-austerity protest aimed at the government and EU leaders meeting in Brussels

Record ID: 340628

  • Title: BELGIUM: Belgium's first general strike in almost two decades paralyses the country in an anti-austerity protest aimed at the government and EU leaders meeting in Brussels
  • Date: 31st January 2012
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (JANUARY 30, 2012) (REUTERS) AUDI LOGO AND FIRE BURNING ** UPSOUND - DRUMS ** IN FRONT OF AUDI FACTORY, WORKERS ON STRIKE GATHERED AROUND FIRE WORKERS PLAYING MUSIC GROUP OF WORKERS MAKING MUSIC, FIRE BURNING FIRE BURNING AND WORKER ON STRIKE FIRE BURNING AND WORKERS MAKING MUSIC (SOUNDBITE) (French) LEADER OF SOCIALIST UNION FGTB IN AUDI FACTORY,
  • Embargoed: 15th February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium, Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3RNQ0AUP4S6NO3KKEUB71D0YF
  • Story Text: Belgians went on strike on Monday (January 30) over government plans to raise the effective retirement age along with other measures designed to save 11.3 billion euros ($14.84 billion).
    It is Belgium's first general strike since 1993.
    The entire rail network closed, buses and trams were idled, many schools and shops shut and production at the Audi and Volvo car plants stopped.
    "We are afraid because it won't be the first austerity plan. We hear of more plans coming up. This is why we are here. They are targeting retirement benefits, early retirement benefits, unemployment benefits and time credit," said Ben ALi, the leader of the Socialist union FGTB at the Audi factory, told Reuters.
    High-speed international trains, such as the Eurostar from London and Thalys from Paris, were not running into or out of the country from late on Sunday.
    Unions have called Belgium's first general strike since 1993 over government plans to raise the effective retirement age along with other measures designed to save 11.3 billion euros ($14.8 billion).
    Jordan Croeisaerdt (pronounce Croy-saart), a union leader for the railway workers,
    "The government measures we oppose is the pension reform for our sector. They will base their calculation on the last 10 years, not just the last year, this is a loss of 150 euros every month for future pensioner," Croeisaerdt said.
    Belgium has pledged to bring its public sector deficit below the EU limit of 3 percent of gross domestic product this year to avoid an EU fine and to reassure investors it has its finances under control.
    The strike coincides with the 17th EU summit in two years as the bloc battles to resolve its sovereign debt problems. The EU leaders will sign off on a permanent rescue fund for the euro zone and are expected to agree on a balanced budget rule in national legislation.
    Charleroi Airport, a hub for Ryanair and other low-cost carriers, was forced to scrap all flights due to union plans to block the access road.
    At the port of Antwerp, Europe's second busiest, all container and some bulk cargo terminals, with shipping traffic suffering delays due to suspended harbour services.
    At Brussels airport most flights were running.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register