Dendermonde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A one-day strike in Dendermonde sees strong participation from public service workers. Maarten Bieseman (ACOD) leads protests against privatisation plans set for January 1, 2026.
As VRT News reported, the strike in Dendermonde is going well. The city doesn’t usually have strikes, so this is notable. Maarten Bieseman, a union representative, said many people are participating. This shows public service workers want to voice their concerns.
Several public services are affected. 3 local service centres are closed for the day. The people who work on roads and buildings are also striking. The city shop is open, but only for essential items.
Will Dendermonde halt privatisation after strike action?
Some elderly care workers are not participating in the strike. They want to care for the residents. Bieseman understands this. He mentioned that he respects their choice because it’s a difficult situation. Even with this, the strike is still going well in other city departments. He thinks the number of people involved sends a strong message.
The strike in Dendermonde is currently set for one day. The future of the strike depends on the outcome of tonight’s meetings on June 1, 2025. The city council and the OCMW will discuss the city’s plans to privatise services.
These plans have caused worry among workers and unions, leading to today’s protest. Maarten Bieseman from ACOD will monitor the meetings closely. He will decide if more strikes or protests are needed based on the city’s decision about privatisation.
“If the councils simply accept these plans, we will try to take further action, because the final implementation of these plans is not scheduled until January 1, 2026. We think we still have time to adjust the plans,”
Says Bieseman.
Unions are asking the city council to either delay or completely cancel the privatisation plans. They mentioned that the main worry is how these plans will affect the city’s employees, particularly regarding their jobs and work conditions. Bieseman emphasises that if the city proceeds, it’s crucial to have clear and fair assessments of the impact on the staff.
The union insists that workers shouldn’t be forced into uncertain jobs with a private partner, whose long-term stability and commitment to worker well-being are unknown. The union’s main goals are to protect public service jobs and ensure job security for the workers in this ongoing discussion.
