Sint-Jans-Molenbeek (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): On September 5, workers in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek went on strike due to poor conditions, demanding support from city officials. There are only 32 street sweepers for nearly 100,000 residents.
On September 5, workers from a city organization went on strike due to very poor working conditions. The unions claimed that city officials have ignored serious issues raised by the staff, despite many requests for help, which has left the employees feeling frustrated. To address this, the workers held a meeting and decided to stop working until their demands for better conditions were met. It has been said that the strike shows their desperation for a response from the city officials and aims to raise awareness about the severity of their situation. The unions are backing this action, emphasizing the need for immediate attention to the worsening conditions faced by the employees.
What are the demands of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek workers amid the strike for better conditions?
In Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, keeping the area clean is becoming difficult due to tough working conditions. With over 100,000 residents, there are only 32 street sweepers, many of whom are older and not as effective. This small number, along with frequent vehicle breakdowns, makes it hard to keep the streets clean. There’s also a serious lack of essential equipment, which makes the situation worse. The unions say these problems lead to more illegal dumping, making waste management even tougher. The cleanliness of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek is at risk, showing a clear need for better resources and tools. It has been said that the staff there are very tired because they have too much work. Since the beginning of the year, they have had to clean up over 28,000 tons of waste, putting a lot of pressure on them. Their exhaustion is affecting their work quality. The heavy workload is made worse by old equipment and a lack of necessary tools.Â
The unions want important changes for the workers. They want them to be respected, everyone to get promoted, more staff hired to avoid tiredness and accidents, shorter hours for workers over 55 with the same pay, and strict rules against attacks on workers. If the authorities don’t listen, they might extend their strike, and other city services could join in. In Schaerbeek, cleaning workers stopped their jobs this summer because they were often attacked, but now they have a new plan where community guards help them, and cleaning has started again since early September.
