In what may be a mirror image of events in France 60,000 demonstrators took
to the streets yesterday bringing midday Brussels to a standstill.
Mainly comprised of public sector employees the demonstrators were
protesting against forthcoming budgetary cuts. It is seen as an opening shot
in a campaign by workers to force Jean-Luc Dehaene to stop implementation of
an austerity programme in an attempt to reduce spending by 2 billion
sterling in next years budget which would entail job losses and threats to
pensions and pay.
Railway workers have been significantly involved so far witha series of
single and multiple day strikes over plan restructuring in their industry
which could lead to 10,000 job losses. Employees from the airline Sabena
have also joined in with a series of lightning strikes.
FREEDOM PRESS
http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/Freedom