Brussels: Europe and Arabs
The Belgian capital Brussels is witnessing a national demonstration today, Monday. Under the slogan "Industry is ours", thousands of people will support Audi and car company employees and all other employees whose industrial jobs are threatened.
The local media quoted the Belgian news agency this morning that the immediate reason for the demonstration is the threat to close the Audi car factory in Brussels, where 3,000 jobs are threatened, and the impact on suppliers. But the demonstration is broader.
Since the beginning of this year, thousands of jobs have been threatened and eliminated in the manufacturing industry in Belgium, as the various trade unions ABVV, ACV, ACLVB and the European industrial union industriALL say.
The unions have previously taken to the streets for a forward-looking industrial policy, and to protect good jobs in industry and investments. They say that the austerity policies imposed by Europe are completely at odds with that. The demonstration will start from Brussels' North Station at 10.30am and head towards Luxembourg Square where speeches will be given. The initiators expect between 5,000 and 10,000 demonstrators. The Brussels public transport company MIVB has warned of the inconvenience caused by the measure.