Entered into the database on Monday, October 31st, 2005 @ 12:34:32 MST
Belgian workers have caused widespread disruption with a 24-hour national
strike in protest at government plans to up the retirement age from 58 to 60.
Few buses and trams were running in most cities, and Charleroi airport, south
of Brussels, was shut down. Trains were not affected as unions wanted them to keep running to carry people
to protests in the capital. Tens of thousands of protesters have been marching through Brussels to get
the prime minister to reconsider. A primary school in Brussels decided to allow retired teachers and grandparents
to take the lessons as part of the nationwide protest. Unions are calling for more provision for older workers, saying that employees
over 50 are often jettisoned when companies attempt to cut costs. No talks They also complain that in other cases, the new plans would keep older people
working longer while young people struggle to find jobs. "If the government does not respond favourably... the atmosphere will become
fiercer," Socialist union leader Xavier Verboven told local VRT television. "November is risking to become a very turbulent month... This is a signal
to the government." Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt's government has rejected calls to re-open talks
with unions on the proposed changes to state pensions. It is the second major strike in Belgium this month. The strike on 7 October brought much of the country to a virtual standstill,
with transport, schools and government services hit by protests.
