Belgium: Racism and fascism
01 January 1991
Belgium: Racism and fascism
artdoc July=1994
Vlaams Blok targets trade union rank and file
Solidaire is concerned about the attitude of some trade union
branches to immigrant and asylum issues. Apparently, at a trade
union congress in Hasselt last December, the Transport and
Diamonds section of the metal union, the CSC, sent a resolution
stating: `Our first responsibility as a union is to our members,
90 per cent of whom are Belgian. We must defend their interests,
even if that means negative measures against immigrants and
asylum-seekers. We note that members who have paid social
security contributions for years and who, now, as a result of the
bad economic situation are unemployed, receive after one year
only 40 per cent of their original salary. On the other hand,
asylum-seekers who have just arrived in Belgium receive an equal
amount. When one knows full well that there is no work here for
our men, women and families, one must take measures to send them
back in a humane way'. The resolution continues to link
increasing crime to the foreigner population, in particular
illegal immigrants. There is also the question of the influence
of the fascist Vlaams Blok amongst rank and file trade unionists.
In 1991, the VB launched a campaign entitled `Work for our people
first' and it has written, most recently, in its newspaper of the
need to reach grassroots trade unionists in order to build up
pressure on the union leadership to take up the position of the
VB. Solidaire is concerned about the VB's influence at some
union plants such as `Boel' and `Shiprepair'. The trade union the
`Centrale Chratienne des Services Publics' has just published a
pamphlet called `Living together in Antwerp' which draws on two
years `open discussion' including the Vlaams Blok. The CCSP
places immigrants at the centre of Antwerp's social problems. `It
is clear that immigrants benefit from particular advantages.
Asking immigrants to respect regulations only brings forth
critical comments from the authorities... On the other hand,
information is withheld. One doesn't respond to criminality by
hiding the statistics about criminal acts... A guest must adapt
to the ways of the host... Immigrants must accept Western ideas
based on the principle that all human beings are equal'.
(Solidaire 16.2.94).
Citizenship
Objectief 479,917 announces election campaign
The organisation Objectief 479,917 is set to make voting rights
for immigrants of five years standing an issue at the European
parliament elections in June and local elections in October. The
campaign plans to organise alternative elections for immigrants
at 100 polling stations where immigrants will be given the chance
to vote (Solidaire 16.2.94).
IRR European Race Audit, Bulletin no 8, May 1994. Contact:Liz
Fekete, Insitute of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street, London WC1X
9HS. Tel: 071 837 0041