The Arizona government is desperately trying to get a budget done. To fill the billion-dollar pit, she will, as usual, search in the same pockets again! Ours. Yours.
For 19 months, the Arizona government has been carrying out a frontal assault on the foundations of our social protection. Pensions, wages, working conditions, health protection, social security and public services are being systematically reduced. At the same time, employees, benefit recipients, pensioners and sick people are constantly being asked to pay the bill. In the meantime, the Flemish Government also continued the attack on public services, their users and families in its September Statement.
VAT increase? NO THANKS!
Fiddling with the index and our purchasing power? NO THANKS!
More and more flexibility? NO THANKS!
GO LOOK FOR THE MONEY ELSEWHERE!
That the government will look for its billions where they can be found: with large assets, capital income, large companies and their lucrative gifts, and with the strongest shoulders who can easily contribute a little more.
Our red lines are clear:
- Stay away from purchasing power, the index and VAT!
- We certainly don't like extra flexibility through the annualization of working hours!
- We want respect for the careers of young and old and decent working conditions.
The government threatens to cross these red lines one by one.
OCTOBER 9 IS A FIRST WARNING!
This autumn will be one of mobilization. On October 9, we will take to the streets in Brussels to send a clear signal to the Arizona government:
WE WILL NOT PAY THIS NEW INVOICE!
Strike Notice
A strike notice was filed for this day to give all UGent staff members the opportunity to participate in this national demonstration.
Did you – as an ACOD member – participate in this action, and did UGent withhold your salary for this day? If so, please send us your payslip showing this deduction via email to ACOD@UGent.be so that we can take the necessary steps regarding the payment of strike compensation.
Practical Information
- National demonstration on Friday, October 9, 2026, in Brussels
- We are gathering from 10:00 AM on at Albertina Square at train station Brussels-Central
- At 11:00 AM there will be some speeches. The demonstration itself starts after the speeches and will proceed towards Brussels South Station.
Train Transport
You must register in advance for this. You can do so until Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 10:00 AM.
How do you do this?
- Click on this link (in Dutch) and then on ‘Een plek reserveren’.
- Enter your name, national registry number, and email address.
- Indicate whether you want a train ticket and enter the station from which you are departing.
Please note regarding the form fields for strike pay: to receive strike pay as an ACOD member, you must email us your payslip for the month of October—on which the salary for the strike day was withheld—to ACOD@UGent.be.
After registration, you will receive an email with a document. Keep this safe. It contains a QR code that will be scanned by our staff at the stations or in Brussels to confirm your presence. You can have your QR code scanned, for example, by the ACOD secretaries of East Flanders, or at the ABVV East Flanders music cart. Only members who are scanned as present will receive the lunch allowance (10 euros) for the action.
Your train ticket will be automatically added to your e-ID card. So be sure to bring your e-ID card with you on October 9 as well.
Not registered?
Then you can still buy your train ticket yourself. As an ACOD member, you may send us a scan of your train ticket afterwards, along with your name and national register number, to ACOD@UGent.be.
Registered, but unable to attend after all?
Please inform bert.piessens@abvv.be no later than October 8 at 10:00 AM. This way, we can cancel your train ticket and avoid buying unnecessary tickets.
Traveling together by train
We will meet the ACOD UGent comrades departing from Ghent at 9:30 AM at Ghent Sint-Pieters station. We will take the 9:41 AM train (towards Brussels and Luik-Guillemins) to Brussels Central.
Please let us know at ACOD@UGent.be if you are also departing from Ghent, so that we can travel together as one delegation.
ACOD UGent calls upon all UGent staff to continue standing up with us for strong public services and social justice!