Thousands of people gather for Labor Day: “Social achievements come under pressure” | Brussels
BrusselsLabor Day is celebrated in several places in the capital on Sunday. Thousands of people gathered at the Mont des Arts for the Labor Day, Elsewhere in Brussels one.brussels and PVDA/PTB gathered their militants.
At the foot of the Kunstberg, the public was treated to live music and debates. Various organizations and parties were given an information stand. Normally the festivities take place on the Rouppeplein, but due to the works on the future Toots Thielemans metro station a little further away, the socialist union was forced to look for a new location.
“Symbolic, but important”
For Laurent from Brussels, who works for the NMBS, it is important not to forget the achievements of workers. “Today is a symbolic day, but an important day. All workers are and remain united that, and May 1 represents idea. Certainly social achievements – achievements that have been fought for today.”
Bram and Valeria from Sint-Genesius-Rode admit that they mainly went to the Kunstberg for the performances. “But of course we are also part of the working class: my wife as a lawyer and I as a computer scientist. We are also concerned about energy prices and yields. Unfortunately, both trends are hard to avoid in the current context. We feel the good ones on a daily basis, but luckily we can handle that. But we are also here today because, for example, more money is allowed to go directly to the most vulnerable.”
(read more below the photos)
People without papers
For PVDA-PTB, the impact of the cost of living on families and workers was central. The party advocated sustainable interventions on Place Anneessens in Brussels, such as supporting the prices of a number of basic goods. “We want to support the prizes to protect all works people”, says Hedebouw. The price for petrol and diesel can also be limited to a maximum of 1.40 euros per litre. PVDA has filed a publication PTB.
one.brussels – the local branch of Vooruit – went to a meeting in DC Randstad in Molenbeek to the Varkensmarkt in the Sint-Katelijne district in Brussels. Among other things, testimonials were discussed from workers who work in Brussels without papers and therefore without workers’ rights of protection.
“We know that tens of thousands of people live and work in Brussels without papers. They in many cases face exploitation and poor working conditions. They are not protected when something goes wrong. They have no social security. We wanted to give that dimension of Brussels and those workers a voice on this Labor Day,” said Brussels MP Els Rochette.
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