The Brussels-Hal-Vilvoorde of Setca trade union Setca filed an indefinite strike notice this week for the Brussels social housing sector. The socialist union points to difficult working conditions and lost wages.
The union is denouncing “a lack of social dialogue” in the management of the 16 public service housing companies (SISP) in the capital region.
According to Setca, “workers have been badly treated for four years and their situation has not improved,” explains Gladys De Paepe, permanent secretary of Setca BHV. Particular issues are worsening working conditions with psycho-social risks, discrimination, and lost wages following the merger of the 32 SISPs into 16.
De Paepe also points to workers and union delegates who are “afraid of reprisals” from the management of these now-private companies. “No progress has been made in setting up real trade union consultation within the SISPs,” she added, explaining that Brussels Secretary of State for Housing Nawal Ben Hamou is not responding to requests for negotiations. “We’ve been waiting more than a year for answers from the cabinet, but they haven’t come.”
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Strike action is expected in the next few days if no response from the secretary of state or the SISP directorates arrives on the table, Setca warns.
For their part, the Société du logement de la Région bruxelloise (SLRB), which has administrative oversight of the SISPs, and Nawal Ben Hamou’s office confirm that they were informed of the strike notice on Friday. “We had already proposed a meeting. We remain open to dialogue,” said the Secretary of State.
