National strikes in Belgium and Greece


The main union confederations in both Belgium and Greece are organising 24-hour national strikes this month. 


Both will be on 9 November and both have the same cause — rising prices and falling living standards.


In Belgium, where inflation was 11.3% in September, the country’s two largest union confederations, the CSC/ACV and the FGTB/ABVV, are calling on their members to take action, although the CSC/ACV recognises that not all its members may be able to lose a day’s pay. 


The FGTB/ABVV, which has made a direct call for a general strike, is calling for concrete measures to strengthen workers’ purchasing power, and legal changes to remove limits on bargaining.


In Greece, where prices in September were 12.0% higher than a year earlier, the country’s two union confederations, the GSEE, representing private sector workers and ADEDY representing those in the public sector, are calling on all employees to participate in a 24-hour national stoppage.