Maarkedal (Brussels Morning Newspaper) –Teachers in a primary school in Maarkedal, for instance, refused to go on a strike but dressed like old-age persons to protest against proposed pension schemes by the new federal government.
While two teachers stayed at home to participate in the strike in Brussels, most of their colleagues chose this funny but meaningful gesture to express their needs regarding the pension reforms. They believe that such action will be understood by parents and draw their attention towards the consequences of the government pension plans.
Teachers of a primary school in Maarkedal dressed as elderly people to protest against proposed pension plans while stressing the importance of child education. The intended public for this creative action is the parents and members of the community. The teachers’ decision to dress like older people also symbolises their concerns about future pensions. Thus, by performing this fun action, they want to convey to the parents and the community that they are dedicated to their students and want their rights as teachers back. According to De Geneve, while their institution is not on strike, they see it necessary to focus on the ongoing pension debates in the federal processes. The teachers understand that the students may question their rather extraordinary choice of clothing and intend to inform the students that this is not a festive decision but a serious concern over their economic life.
This points to the concern of educators with pension plans and working conditions, which has grown louder lately among teachers. The frivolous attitude of the demonstration, however, addresses the more severe consequence of alteration of pension policies that may lead to the detriment of a teacher’s pension funds. That is why, choosing this method of protest, the teachers claim it possible to involve parents and students in a discursive analysis of the problem and the need for proper rewards and perspectives on retirement in front of teachers.
Context of teacher protests and pension reforms
The protest of teachers in Maarkedal is symbolic of the rest of the country, where educators are unhappy with pension reforms. For the past few years, teachers have developed more awareness, and many teachers have served notice that any changes that would seek to alter their remuneration for civil servants, specifically retirement benefits, would be met with resistance. Provocative actions have been seen all around the world: teachers demanding to preserve pensions, insisting on proper financing of schools, stating that these problems concern them and the qualities they can offer directly.
The issues described in relation to pensions are highly relevant in regard to the further negotiations of the public sector budget and teachers’ salaries. For many years now, teachers have complained that current pension plans are underfunded or are too convoluted to provide enough retirement income to teachers. It has raised the demand for changes not only in the Belgian educational system but in other countries where teachers experience similar difficulties. While governments persist in appreciating the need to balance budgets while at the same time addressing public sector needs, educators sit and watch and wait for policies that will respect and support those who spend their lives educating others.
Therefore, even though the employees of Maarkedal Primary School are not on strike in the conventional way, they are protesting, and this protest symbolises major problems concerning pensions and educators. In this way, to promote a change of pensions for the improvement of future educators, they intend to address this action to the community of the appropriate educational institutions.
