After a failed strike attempt on Monday, the unions are gearing up for a large demonstration on Friday, 18 July, on the eve of the Ghent Festivities.
The protest is aimed at the planned cuts by the Ghent city administration, which could result in the loss of hundreds of jobs. “The intention is to send a strong message against these cuts,” said Maya Vermoesen from VSOA. “What we hear is that staff do not want to be the victims of these cutbacks, and the administration seems indifferent.”
According to Vermoesen, there is significant frustration among employees. “There is definitely support. People are not happy here.” She noted that the absence of a strike on Monday hasn’t changed the determination to take to the streets en masse on Friday.
The timing of the demonstration is deliberate. “That’s why it’s organised just before the Ghent Festivities. How will the administration respond to our protest?” The unions do not rule out further actions during the festivities. “Indeed, there might be more actions affecting the Ghent Festivities,” Vermoesen confirmed.
There is also social unrest at IVAGO. Vermoesen directed further questions to her colleague, Bjorn Vertenten, who is monitoring the situation within the waste management company.
Vertenten highlighted the prospect of the incineration plant closing in 2030. Despite previous promises to keep the plant operational and to invest in its facilities, the environmental permit is set to expire in 2030, potentially leading to the loss of around 40 jobs.
The unions claim it was previously promised that a plan would be developed by 2028 to retain the workforce. Simultaneously, the city was expected to allocate funds for any severance pay. This has caused annoyance among the unions, who are also seeking long-term job and wage security.
The city administration had already stated that the plant would close because it no longer meets capacity requirements to achieve energy-efficient economies of scale. The idea that Ghent’s waste would eventually be processed in more efficient and larger installations is not new and was communicated before the recent major budget cuts were detailed.
