Workers at the ArcelorMittal steel plant in Ghent are being urged by trade union federations to join a 24-hour general strike scheduled for 31 March.
The General Labour Federation of Belgium, FGTB, and Confederation of Christian Trade Unions, CSC, have called for the strike to protest against the new government’s plans and for what they term a fairer society.
Among other things, they are calling for decent pensions, tenable careers, greater purchasing power and high-quality public services.
Europe's steel sector as a whole is struggling with its own issues, and there is growing concern at ArcelorMittal in Ghent.
The plant, which employs 4,500 people, is facing uncertainty about its future. Recruitment has slowed, and unions fear that support services may be relocated to India, threatening jobs in Belgium.
