Over 5,000 members of the FGTB union took part in protests across Wallonia and Brussels on Monday against the new austerity measures adopted in late April by the European Parliament.
According to the socialist union, this austerity plan could deal a "fatal blow" to hospitals, education, public services, healthcare, and social security.
These new European austerity rules aim to bolster the public finances of member states and limit each country’s public administration deficit to 3% of GDP and debt to 60%. For Belgium, this represents an annual saving of approximately €30 billion by 2028, with an initial milestone of €7 billion by 2025.
In Brussels, around 300 protesters gathered at Place Jean Rey, displaying placards with slogans like "Hands off our public services" and "Social welfare is vital, we need resources now!".
General Secretary of the FGTB Brussels, Florence Lepoivre, emphasised that these new measures were enacted "unilaterally by right and far-right parties”, urging citizens to vote for left-wing parties on Sunday. Lepoivre stated that these parties are "the only ones who have come out against these budget rules”, which are intended to “destroy solidarity and public services in Europe".
The city of Mons saw the largest turnout, with 3,000 protesters from the Centre, Wallonia Picarde, and Mons-Borinage regions. They marched from the train station to the main square, chanting “We won’t pay” and “Stop austerity”.
The new budget rules run the risk of "hitting workers, social welfare recipients, and the most disadvantaged hard," explained FGTB regional secretary Ahmed Ryadi. Ryadi called for finding "ways to pay from sources other than the sick, the unemployed, and retirees," particularly by taxing significant wealth.
In Liège, several dozen union affiliates assembled at Place St-Paul, disrupting the Tec-Liège-Verviers network. Leaflets were also distributed at Liège-Guillemins station, the Citadelle CHR, and Médiacité shopping centre.
"Our message to political parties is clear, whether at the Walloon, federal, or European level: we reject your austerity, and we won’t let this happen," stated Jean-François Tamellini, General Secretary of the Wallonia FGTB, who added that the forthcoming elections on June 9th were of "vital importance".
Around 500 trade unionist also took to the streets in Namur, commencing their march on Fernand Golenvaux Avenue and winding their way around the Walloon capital. A large banner declaring "€30 billion in savings, we won’t pay anymore" was unfurled on the citadel. According to the FGTB, the upcoming elections will be "fundamental" in determining policies that will unlock these sizeable sums.
Union representatives urged people to vote on Sunday for progressive parties. According to them, these parties will increase “revenues via fairer taxation” and will invest “in public services and social welfare”, as opposed to right-wing parties who will “try to cut expenditure by reducing healthcare, unemployment benefits, and public services”.
Finally, in Verviers, 600 trade unionists marched to express their dissatisfaction with these European budgetary measures, according to FGTB figures.
