May 13, 8:04 AM
Tens of Thousands Shut Down Brussels as Belgian Unions Cry Foul Over Government Reforms
Pensions, wages, and automatic pay rises are on the line. And Charleroi Airport? Completely grounded.
Brussels ground to a noisy halt on Tuesday. Somewhere between 40,000 and 70,000 people took to the streets, answering the call of the country's three main trade unions. Their target: the federal government's reforms, which the unions have branded "anti-social."
The demonstrators had three main issues on their signs and their minds. First, pensions. The unions have condemned a pension reform that they say leaves workers worse off. Second, purchasing power. And third, perhaps the most contentious of all, the automatic indexation of wages. The unions are also protesting what they describe as an attack on that system, which automatically adjusts wages to keep pace with inflation.
The rally did not happen in a vacuum. It unfolded against a backdrop of soaring energy prices caused by the war in the Middle East.
This national demonstration is the latest chapter in a trade union campaign that has been running for a year and a half. The target of that campaign is the ruling coalition government led by Prime Minister Bart De Wever, a Flemish nationalist. Tuesday's march was a fresh salvo in a prolonged fight over the direction of the country's social and economic policies.
The impact on daily life was immediate. Public transport across the country operated at a reduced service. Charleroi Airport cancelled all flights scheduled for the day. That is not a minor disruption. That is a full stop.
To put Tuesday's numbers in perspective, the last national demonstration on March 12 drew significantly more people – between 80,000 and 100,000 to Brussels. So while Tuesday's turnout was substantial, it was not the biggest the capital has seen recently. But 70,000 people blocking streets and shutting down an airport is still a message that is hard to ignore.
The government, for its part, has so far not signalled any intention to back down. The unions, meanwhile, have shown no sign of putting away their banners. Belgium, as always, does compromise. But it also does very loud, very organised, and very disruptive protests. This one is far from over.
