Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Leuven and 4 other towns of Flemish Brabant, the ACV union gave cacti to shop assistants to protest poor retail conditions, criticising De Wever’s government for unfair policies and lack of support.
Shop assistants in Leuven and 4 other towns in Flemish Brabant, Belgium, are getting cacti on April 29, 2025. The ACV trade union is giving them the cacti to show how difficult their jobs are. They say the cacti are like the “prickly” working conditions they face.
The union says the government is making things harder for shop assistants, and they want to start a conversation about it. The union leader, Johan Vervoort, says the cacti represent the tough situation many shop assistants face because of the policies of the De Wever government.
The union hopes this will help the workers and make things better for them. They are giving out the cacti in shopping streets and centres to get people talking. They mentioned that they want to show solidarity with the workers and protest against things like irregular hours, low job security, and pressure to be flexible even when workers have personal or family commitments.
What did ACV’s Cacti Protest in Flemish Brabant aim to highlight?
The union is using cacti instead of strikes to get people’s attention. They know that strikes can be annoying, and people don’t always understand them. Kathy De Roover, who organized the cactus campaign, says they don’t want to shut down the country. They just want people to listen to the workers’ concerns.
The union thinks the cacti will show people how strong and resilient the workers are, even when they face difficult working conditions. They hope this will make people more aware of the problems and support the fight for better working conditions.
Union members in Leuven pushed a cart full of cacti through a busy shopping street. The union representative, Vervoort, said that workers are being asked to be flexible and work longer hours, but their wages are not going up. He mentioned that workers are tired and feel like they are not valued. They are being asked to do more but are not getting anything in return.
The union chose cacti for a reason. It also represents a political group in Belgium called “Arizona Coalition.” This group is known for cutting spending and not caring about social welfare.
By linking the cacti to both work and politics, the union is saying that both employers and the government are making life harder for workers. They are saying that the whole system is becoming harsh and unfair, just like a desert.
The action has provoked mixed reactions from shop staff.
“I don’t care about the effects the government has on us. But it’s nice that I got a cactus,”
Some say.
“I do worry, for example, about my pension. Something has to change,”
Others say.
