Brussels Teachers Strike for Union Rights, Fair Employment

Around 400 teachers and students from European Union schools in Brussels held a half-day strike to protest against inadequate employment conditions for locally hired teachers, including the lack of union representation and pension plans. This strike, which follows previous protests, highlights significant disparities between EU member state-provided staff and locally hired teachers, who are paid less and lack protections under EU law. Teachers are demanding a legal framework to establish union representation, which they believe is essential for their rights and working conditions. Despite ongoing discussions, the teachers express frustration over their lack of official status and rights. Union representatives assert that the establishment of a union would be a crucial step toward improving their situation. The protests reflect broader issues of inequality within the EU school system, where locally hired teachers often face job insecurity and limited career progression.