One of the main trade unions has criticised “the lack of interest” shown to the personnel of emergency services during the pandemic, and on 31 May, is organising an action day to voice the discontent of its members.
In an open letter addressed to the Minister of Interior Annelies Verlinden, the Free Trade Union of Public Service (SLFP-VSOA) called out the lack of attention shown to firefighters and other personnel of emergency services in Belgium, who were on standby at all times during the pandemic and the heavy floods in July 2021.
According to the SLFP-VSOA, the pandemic and the floods in Wallonia and eastern Flanders demonstrated that there is “a lack of personnel and a lack of means, which is felt the most by agents who work in the field of emergency services."
The union claims that minister Verlinden "shows little interest in civil security" and that they have only been able to meet her once since she took office in October 2020. "In the meantime, the list of demands remains unanswered," it adds.
Their demands include the recognition of the hardship of the profession, better regulation of the end of career and pre-retirement leave. A revision of pay scales, as well as permanent and continuous training, are also mentioned.
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"None of these demands have been examined by your staff, who prefer to deal with the well-being at work, even though this is not the competence of the FPS Interior," the union rebukes Verlinden.
Verlinden "has one week to respond, after which we will give notice of a strike that will be implemented three days later in all emergency zones", warns trade unionist Eric Labourdette.
If necessary, public service actions will continue until Public Service Day on 23 June.
