Brussels – Belgium’s main education unions, ACV, ABVV, and ACLVB, are set to stage a “Career March” in Brussels on October 14, 2025, to protest against the De Wever government’s proposed changes to teachers’ pensions, workloads, and overall working conditions, reports 24brussels.
The unions have issued a warning that the federal government’s plans threaten teachers’ careers and pension security. According to their statements, the proposed reforms would require educators to work longer hours, face increased workloads, and adopt more flexible schedules while simultaneously reducing their pension benefits. The unions argue that these measures will exacerbate inequality and diminish job security in the teaching profession.
In a call to action, the unions are urging all educators to participate in the march, anticipating that thousands will join in demanding improved working conditions and enhanced pension protections. They stress the significance of this protest as a collective response to what they describe as government overreach into educators’ rights.
“Thanks to the massive turnout from education earlier this year, our negotiators can speak today with a strong mandate,” the union stated.
“By taking to the streets en masse, the unions hope to exert pressure on the government to influence the final texts,” they added.
Demands at the Career March in Brussels
The upcoming Career March marks another national day of action organized by Belgian unions against the De Wever government’s policies. The three primary Belgian umbrella unions, ACV, ABVV, and ACLVB, will participate in this critical event.
Union leaders plan to reconvene at Brussels North Station, echoing their previous gathering on June 25, 2025. The march aims to reaffirm their opposition to government reforms and build on the momentum from earlier protests.
Belgian unions have a history of mobilizing against governmental labour and pension reforms. In 2020, they rallied public-sector workers to contest proposed pension changes. Most recently, a significant protest occurred on June 25, 2025, with estimates of 20,000 to 30,000 participants flooding the streets of Brussels. During that protest, union leaders condemned the government as “a government of liars,” citing reforms perceived to undermine workers’ rights and job security.
As the Career March approaches, the unions continue to emphasize the critical need for fair treatment of educators and a commitment to safeguarding their pensions. The outcome of their activism will play a pivotal role in shaping future negotiations with the government.
