Violations
Attempted strike breaking at Inbev: On 12 January, further to strikes at the Liege and Louvain plants of AB Inbev (the brewing giant had just announced restructuring plans that would mean cutting 300 jobs) the employer applied to the courts to have the
strike
strike
The most common form of industrial action, a strike is a concerted stoppage of work by employees for a limited period of time. Can assume a wide variety of forms.
See general strike, intermittent strike, rotating strike, sit-down strike, sympathy strike, wildcat strike
pickets considered as “assault and battery”. The courts of first instance ruled that the request was unfounded. In an appeal concerning the Louvain site, a judge ruled in the employer’s favour, ordering the entrances to be cleared to allow goods to enter and leave the plant, a decision challenged by the local authorities. On 20 January the parties to the dispute reached a compromise.
Delta Lloyd banking company shows contempt for social dialogue: On 15 March, following a
strike
strike
The most common form of industrial action, a strike is a concerted stoppage of work by employees for a limited period of time. Can assume a wide variety of forms.
See general strike, intermittent strike, rotating strike, sit-down strike, sympathy strike, wildcat strike
and an ex parte application, the banking company Delta Lloyd issued a summary of a court ruling in its favour on the company’s intra net. A union representative who asked for a copy of the court order to examine the possibility of an appeal was refused by the employer on the grounds that a full copy of the order would only be of use in the event of a new
strike
strike
The most common form of industrial action, a strike is a concerted stoppage of work by employees for a limited period of time. Can assume a wide variety of forms.
See general strike, intermittent strike, rotating strike, sit-down strike, sympathy strike, wildcat strike
. On 28 April a tribunal ordered Delta Lloyd to pay legal costs, considering that the employer’s behaviour was contrary to the spirit of
social dialogue
social dialogue
Discussion and co-operation between the social partners on matters of common interest, such as economic and social policy. Involves participation by the state where tripartism is practice.
.
Compensation for 26 protected former employees of Forges de Clabecq: On 3 May, at the end of very lengthy proceedings, the metals company Duferco was ordered to pay compensation to 26 former employees of Forges de Clabecq. When the forge went bankrupt in 1997, the unions and the buyer (Duferco) signed an agreement on the re-employment of 800 workers who had lost their jobs. During the proceedings however, nearly all former union representatives were ruled out (only three protected workers out of a total of 160 were invited to submit job applications). Forty two of them lodged a complaint on the grounds of discrimination, believing the arguments given by the employer (absenteeism, involvement in too many workplace accidents, etc.) were fallacious. The tribunal did not uphold the charge of discrimination.
Preventive arrests and physical force against Euromanifestation demonstrators: When the European Day of Action, “Euromanifestation” was held on 29 September in Brussels, organised by the European trade unions, the police made 250 arrests, at least 150 of which were preventive (i.e. before the demonstration). Belgium’s Human Rights League and many trade unions also deplored the fact that physical force was used against demonstrators who were not disturbing public order in any way and did not display any real or potential violence.
