On May 13, workers in Belgium organized mobilizations in the cities of Charleroi, Liege, La Louvière, Arlon and Wapi, among others, calling on the government to reform the anti-worker Wage Margin Act of 1996 and increase wages. Thousands of workers and trade unionists participated in the mobilization called by the General Labor Federation of Belgium (ABVV/FGTB), Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (ACV/CSC) and the General Confederation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium (ACLVB/CGSLB). Activists of political parties like the Workers’ Party of Belgium (PTB/PVDA) and Communist Party of Belgium (PCB/CPB), as well as several student and youth groups, expressed support and solidarity with the workers’ mobilization.
Working class sections across Europe including in Belgium have been organizing frequent mobilizations to protest the ongoing cost of living crisis. Trade unions and progressive political parties have been demanding a general increase in wages to mitigate the crisis marked by skyrocketing food and energy prices. Belgian trade unions view the 1996 Wage Margin Act – which establishes a strict procedure for the Belgian social partners to negotiate a maximum average wage increase – as a major impediment to increase wages in the country.
Workers have also demanded that the government include the maximum number of working class households under social benefit schemes, ensure parity in wages between men and women, a minimum wage of EUR 14 (USD 15.11)/hour – EUR 2,300...
A California lawmaker is suing Sacramento police for falsely accusing her of driving under the influence, saying the case may have been motivated by her tough-on-cops legislation or possibly becaus...