For the fifth consecutive month, unions have mustered in Brussels to hold a large-scale strike. These mass mobilisations have been held on the 13th of every month with the aim of amplifying widespread discontent in many of the country's public sectors.
Notwithstanding the various challenges that union members face, there is a vagueness about the demonstrations which makes it difficult to grasp just what they hope to achieve, besides highlighting a general frustration.
Among the 30,000-strong procession in Brussels today were teachers, airport staff, rail workers, firefighters, prison guards, and even representatives of the military. Though they share concerns about an erosion of working conditions and the national retirement age being raised, austerity measures that might be introduced to address Belgium's ballooning deficit will impact sectors quite differently.
On top of this is the glaring lack of a Federal Government – which still has not formed half a year after elections. Without an executive authority to implement austerity measures it's hard to put a finger on exactly what the protestors are pushing against. The Flemish employers' association labelled the strikes "premature", arguing that such movements should be a last resort rather than a monthly fixture.
If anything deserves a public outcry of disapproval, surely it should be the failure of MPs to settle on a socio-economic programme that will stabilise national finances. And if things look bad at the federal level, it's even more hopeless in Brussels, where the Socialist Party steadfastly refuses to engage in negotiations, whilst knowing full well that no progress can be made without their participation.
It's not surprising that many of the people marching today expressed their scepticism towards Belgium's political class, their reproaches largely justified but also opening the door to more radical political counter-movements.
For the latest updates on how travel is disrupted, see here.
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