Trade unions from the non-profit sector are protesting in Brussels on Thursday as people working in the healthcare and cultural sectors express their dissatisfaction with government policy. What are the unions’ specific demands?
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Non-profit sector protests in Brussels: what are their demands?
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Healthcare
The delegation from the healthcare sector is likely to be the largest. First, they are calling for more investment. These investments are needed to make the profession more attractive, they say, as there is a significant staff shortage. Unions carried out a similar protest in November, demanding the same. A new social agreement is needed for the non-profit sector, according to Christian trade union ACV Puls. “The changes promised by the Flemish and federal governments have not materialised,” they say. “There is still no negotiating mandate or budget for social agreements that guarantee better pay and working conditions.”
They deserve more than applause. It is high time for solutions: better wages, feasible jobs and fair social agreements
ACV Puls is also campaigning for extra leave days for young workers, less paperwork, paid internships and better guidance for people who want to retrain for a job in healthcare. The socialist trade union BBTK also wants more investment. “The Flemish government has already invested, but that was mainly to eliminate waiting lists,” they say. “More is needed than that. That is why we are calling on the Flemish government to quickly launch a multi-year agreement with the necessary budget.” The liberal trade union ACLVB wants more resources for workers in childcare, youth care and support for people with disabilities: “They deserve more than applause. It is high time for solutions: better wages, feasible jobs and fair social agreements.”
The unions also want to make work in the non-profit sector more attractive. “There is a historically high number of vacancies for nurses and there is an acute shortage of care workers, carers and youth workers,” says the socialist union BBTK. According to the unions, this shortage leads to increased work pressure, resulting in more absenteeism and even greater staff shortages. Finally, the sector is protesting against cuts by the federal government. “The measures that have already been decided will put the sector under even more pressure,” says ACV Puls. “Employees will now have to work longer and more flexibly, with less pension.”
Culture Although it also falls under the non-profit sector, the cultural sector differs greatly from the healthcare sector and has its own specific demands. The coalition agreement states that an artist must work 156 days in order for a year to count as a full year in the calculation of their pension.
The measures that have already been decided will put the sector under even more pressure
ACV Puls believes this bar is too high. “This is not always achievable in an artistic career,” they say. “Periods of unemployment, time credit, landing jobs or early retirement also count for less, and these measures hit a sector with short contracts very hard.” The status of artists is also set to be reformed. The sector fears that the reform will make the status less favourable.