Teachers in Liège formed a gigantic protest line almost a kilometre-long on Tuesday morning to "denounce austerity measures announced by the government."
Several thousand people took part in the action, organised by the Joint Trade Union Front.
Charging that they had been "betrayed" by the members of the new government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, the teachers gathered in large numbers on Tuesday morning, supported by parents.
The demonstrators numbered 6,000, according to the unions, 2,500 according to Liège police. The line stretched from the Finance Tower in Guillemins District to the Statue of Charlemagne in the Parc d'Avroy.
After distributing leaflets in front of schools, the teachers gathered at around 10.30 a.m. outside the Finance Tower, where taxes are collected, before heading towards the Parc d'Avroy and the Statue of Charlemagne.Participants formed a human chain and traced an arrow along which bundles of banknotes were passed, as a way of emphasising the need to refinance the sector by indicating where the money should go.
Jorre Dewitte, regional secretary of the CGSP trade union federation, addressed the demonstrators at the foot of the Finance Tower. He suggested that the money needed should be taken "from the pockets of the broadest shoulders."
"This is unacceptable. We want respect for our profession," said Fabien Crutzen, permanent staff member of the CSC federation. He charged that the campaign promises of the current government have not been kept, even though the elected representatives had pledged to raise the status of the profession.
Work will resume in Liège schools on Wednesday, but the common front is already planning other actions for February.