Industrial unrest on 2 and 8 December

29 November 2005

BRUSSELS — Socialist union ABVV drew up its industrial action plan on Tuesday, outlining 2 and 8 December as days of protest against the federal government’s ‘generation pact’.

However, the union was to enter into discussions later on Tuesday with the Christian union federation ACV. More details will follow.

However, ACV leaders are reluctant to wage a hard industrial action campaign, newspaper ‘Het Nieuwsblad’ reported.

The ABVV eventually agreed last week to participate in an information day on 25 November as the first step in the industrial action campaign.

Following two national strikes and regional work stoppages in recent months, unions remain opposed to the government’s generation pact.

The pact aims to boost employment and increase the retention of older workers while re-financing the social security system.

Union federations are primarily angered by government plans to restrict the number of workers taking early retirement by sharpening pre-conditions or lifting the early pension minimum age.

Subject: Belgian news