10 Resolutions from the ACV Congress 2024

International 




1. Lasting peace and justice for all workers 

Many workers, as well as children and young people from all over the world, are today victims of wars, civil wars, armed conflicts or illegal occupations.  As an international trade union movement, we are working for lasting peace and justice worldwide. 

It is the ordinary working people who pay the highest price for war, and their rights and living conditions are at stake, as is the case today in the Israeli Palestinian conflict.  The ACV supports the call by the International Trade Union for the release of the hostages, an immediate cease-fire, the safe return of all workers and an immediate increase in humanitarian support in the run-up to a lasting peace between two recognized and viable states, Palestine and Israel. 

In conflicts like this, we want to defend the rights of the most vulnerable sections of the population, strengthen solidarity among workers worldwide, and raise our voices against human and LaBour rights violations, in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Yemen, Sudan, Myanmar, Syria, East Congo, and so many other places. 

As ACV, we call on our international trade union hubs to actively participate in the international peace movement and to put pressure on governments and international bodies to end the violence.  Only DialoguE, diplomacy and respect for international human rights will enable us to achieve a just and lasting peace. 

We urge the government to respect the international conventions on asylum and to ensure that the human rights of all these people, regardless of their status, are respected.  We call for the support of the victims of conflict, both refugees and displaced persons, to be strengthened by guaranteeing them access to essential services and decent work on our territory. 



2. Worldwide respect for syndical rights 

The Worldwide Rights Index of the International Trade Union Confederation (IVV) shows a systematic deterioration of workers' rights throughout the world.  Worldwide, 22 trade unionists lost their lives because of their commitment to employees.  In Europe and Belgium, too, workers and their organizations are under increasing pressure and even under direct threat. 

However, workers' rights, trade unions and democracy are inextricably linked.  An attack on trade union rights is undermining democracy itself.  We want to express our support and solidarity to all workers' rights defenders worldwide. 

We demand that all governments worldwide comply with the fundamental conventions of the International LaBour ORGAnisAtiOn (ILO) for the protection of workers and workers' organizations, and we will use the ILO, the IVV, in all available ways 

and international federations and partners continue to put pressure on governments to respect them. 


We also call on the Belgian and European authorities to reinstate respect for trade and workers' rights, both in their own policies and in trade agreements and contacts with other countries. 

Governments have a fundamental responsibility to put an end to this oppression.  Every day matters when it comes to protecting workers' rights and guaranteeing a future where social justice prevails. 




Europe 




3. The industry is ours 

The industry is under great pressure and is affected by restructuring and bankruptcy, both in Belgium and throughout Europe.  We are concerned because industry is an important building block of our economy and essential for exports and investment.  In addition, industry is crucial for the transition to a green economy.  This transition is necessary and urgent, because the impact of climate change can no longer be ignored.  There are no jobs on a dead planet. 

Although employees did not have a say in the corporate and policy choices that contributed to the current situation, they do bear the consequences of the lack of vision and investment. 

As ACV, we call for the immediate implementation of a European and Belgian industrial plan with a future perspective and sustainable local employment.  Such a plan should be based on employee participation and involvement at all levels. 

We demand that the European and Belgian governments provide a stable regulatory and investment framework for a forward-looking industry, which can make the transition to a climate-neutral society and adapt to the possible negative consequences of the current transition.  This means, among other things, that employees must be given the necessary support, training and guidance to prevent job losses and to regain perspective in the event of job losses. 

We reach out to think together with employers and government about what the industry of the future should look like, taking into account the employees of today and tomorrow.  Because the industry is ours. 


Federal government formation 




4. A fair policy is needed 

The government negotiations are still ongoing, but it seems that some parties want to use the budget path imposed on us by Europe to push through their ideological agenda, to attack civil society further and to bring about social achievements, collective services, public and non-profit, and collective rights.  The ACV rejects this approach and demands a fair budgetary policy from the negotiators of a new government.  A policy that focuses on finding new revenue for those who do not or hardly contribute, a policy that makes the strongest shoulders bear the most heavy burden when efforts are needed, including through capital taxation.  Workers are entitled to a decent income, to a working career, to security and to collective services, public and non-profit.  The basic prerequisites for achieving this are the abolition of the wage standards law, the maintenance and expansion of the index and a tax reform that ensures fairness and fairness. 

The ACV will continue to confront the government negotiators with these crucial principles and will assess the results of the negotiations against our program and memorandum.  If necessary, we will argue for adjustments, with consultation if possible, with action if we have to! 


Syndical impact grows above all from the bottom up in the workplace, so as ACV we systematically focus on informing, sensitizing and mobilizing our members and potential members.  On the basis of an ambitious action plan, preferably in a joint trade union front, the ACV will organize the workers around the following pillars for the next four years: Dignified income, reliable collective services, public and non-profit, strong social security, sufficient time to live quality and a viable future on our planet. 


5. Acknowledge the social DialoguE 

Various signals from the ongoing federal negotiations point to a lack of recognition of social DialoguE and the importance of collective rights that have been built up over the years.  Social DialoguE is not always respected at regional level either. 

Social DialoguE is the best guarantee of social peace and also leads to better results for workers and the economy as a whole.  It is based on the balance between the power of employers and the counterpower of collectively organized workers. 


The ACV calls on the negotiators to recognize the importance of social DialoguE and to ensure that the social partners can continue to play their role freely and autonomously at all levels in the private, public and education sectors. 

This means that the issues that are to be dealt with in the social DialoguE, such as wages, flexibility and endless career arrangements, cannot be decided unilaterally by the government. 


We call on the social partners to listen to the negotiations, to recognize their role and to value their voice. 

The ACV reiterates its view that the fundamental mechanisms of solidarity between workers must remain federal: Social security, LaBour law and collective bargaining.  We do not accept that these are regionalized or commu-nautarised in a state reform, whether or not concealed. 


6. Protect the access and insurance of Social Security 

Our Social Security is one of the greatest achievements as a society.  Founded after the Second World War, but systematically developed and refined, it protects and insures workers against the risk of unemployment, sickness and old age. 

However, solid protection requires a continuous adaptation to the situation.  The ACV therefore requires that the welfare envelope and the corresponding adjustments of benefits to the general welfare level be maintained and granted in full.  In the absence of a government, the government must assume its responsibilities in current affairs. 

At the same time, we see that the rights built up in our Social Security are under pressure.  The curtailment of unemployment benefits over time has become a political symbol, while in fact it will have no activating or budgetary effect.  On the contrary, it will push people away from support in their search for work, work that is a right. 

Such choices use an individual debt model as a human image and ignore the duty of employers and governments to provide an offer of adapted work for those workers who do not have opportunities in the LaBour market.  We are also seeing more and more such policies in other benefit systems, ranging from illness to retirement, with the urge to activate at all costs taking it from social insurance. 

The ACV opposes the limitation of unemployment benefits over time and requires that the various social security benefits should, in the first place, remain their insurance character. 

The ACV also calls on the negotiators to respect the role of the social partners in the management of social security.  Trade unions and mutualities that originate from social security must continue to play an important role as contributors to social security benefits, as custodians of social security, as social partners in shaping future social policy. 


7. Free and strengthen the collective services, public and non-profit 

Budgetary choices will also determine collective services, public and non-profit, with government negotiations moving in the direction of saving 

instead of investing.  Such savings or lack of investment directly and severely affect workers, jobseekers, young people and older people who are vulnerable or financially difficult. 


The ACV is convinced of the importance of collective services, public and non-profit.  Strong public and collective services are an essential pillar to ensure a just society, as well as a decent income and fair taxation.  Collective services, the public and non-profit are ‘collective wealth, and the only wealth of those who do not have individual wealth’.  The ACV believes that public and collective services guarantee respect for fundamental rights: The right to education, health and well-being, and economic, political, social and cultural rights. 

The ACV asks that the government recognizes the importance of collective services, public and non-profit, and finances them in accordance with needs and future challenges, without privatizing and commercializing them.  Good pay and working conditions are a prerequisite for quality services. 

The ACV will oppose any attempt to disrupt public services and reduce the status of public and educational staff, from permanent appointment to the public pension system. 

Following the call from the social partners in the G10, we continue to argue for accessible, high-quality, affordable and more integrated public transport in order to reduce the existing transport poverty among workers. 

For all these reasons, the ACV will actively campaign for strong collective services, public and non-profit. 


8. Against justice in society 

As an ACV, we are concerned to note the growing number of voters who are being seduced by the sirens of the far right and the increasing righteousness in our society.  This development threatens the democratic, just and solidarity-based values that we want to promote.  However, with the growing influence and normalization of the far right, these values are under pressure.  The racist, discriminatory and anti-syndical agenda of right-wing populist parties threatens not only acquired rights, but also the basic principles of solidarity and inclusion on which our democratic society is built. 

The far right normalizes an ideology that is at odds with the core values of the ACV.  The emergence of authoritarian and anti-democratic forces, both nationally and internationally, is a direct threat to democracy.  The success of the far right leads to a shift in policy and public opinion, undermining solidarity mechanisms and normalizing discriminatory measures and language. 

This calls for strong and coordinated action by the ACV to do everything in its power to protect and strengthen our democratic values. 

It is the task of the ACV to put a stop to the far right by strengthening cohesion, solidarity and mutual understanding among workers.  We do this first and foremost by continuing to fight for a socially just society.  After all, responding to the injustice felt by many workers is fundamental to reversing the increasing right.  We will also strengthen our cooperation with like-minded organizations, continue to work on diversity in our ranks, and strengthen our ability to arm both members and non-members against the treacherous rhetoric of far-right demagogues to expose their anti-social face. 


A trade union that listens and captures the concerns of the workers and converts them into a collective struggle for a better society is a powerful recipe against justice. 

As a symbol of the importance of the fight against the extreme right, the ACV advocates the introduction of 8 May, the end of WWII as a national holiday.  The introduction of this holiday will help to strengthen our democratic values and promote 

an inclusive society.  It reminds us that freedom and democracy are not self-evident, but must be constantly defended and offers the opportunity to pass on the need to fight against the right of society every time. 



9.A lasting struggle for equality between men and women 

The ‘pilot balloons’ that were abandoned during the formation of the federal government and in Brussels, as well as in the regional and Community policy declarations in the north and south of the country, are of great concern to us.  We see a desperate lack of expertise and willingness to promote gender equality in our country.  Everywhere on the right is progress 

book, women's rights are deteriorating.  The figures on the pay gap, the pension gap, differences in contracts, professional sectors, the weight of work, transport modes, family composition (80% of single-parent families are 'manned' by a woman), the use of public and collective services, the impact of work on health, etc. turns out to be elke 

day again, the differences between women and men are a reality.  This is also evident in our contacts with the workers, both in the workforce and the unemployed.  That is why it is more urgent than ever to join all our efforts to combat these inequalities: 

•Continue our historic struggle for higher gross wages and reduced working hours. 

•Put on a gender perspective - and systematically demand figures on men and women. 

That is why we are making 8 March, International Women's Day, a day of sensitization and action. 


10. Investing in education is investing in everyone's future 

The ACV recognizes that education as a public service plays a central role in our society.  It offers opportunities to children and young people, and it is the workers, employers and policy makers of the future.  Investment in education therefore contributes to the development of individual citizens and society as a whole. 

In order to build on the future of our society, everyone must be able to count on quality education, both solid general education and sound training.  De goed opgeleide lerenden van vandaag zijn de sterke burgers en werknemers van de toekomst. Daarbij is het essentieel dat onderwijs democratisch georganiseerd wordt en voor iedereen toegankelijk is, zodat gelijke kansen gewaarborgd zijn voor alle lerenden. Vrijheid van onderwijs en de organisatie ervan moeten gevrijwaard worden door de overheid.


Het ACV benadrukt dat die kwaliteit van onderwijs niet kan gerealiseerd worden zonder zorg voor kwaliteit van werken in onderwijs. Beide staan de laatste jaren in heel het land zwaar onder druk: dalende onderwijsresultaten, een schrijnend lerarentekort, te hoge werkdruk, stijgend ziekteverzuim, de onzekere toekomst van statuut en pensioen van onderwijspersoneelsleden,… En ook in onderwijs lijkt het sociaal overleg niet langer de plaats om voor deze uitdagingen samen naar oplossingen te zoeken. Deze problemen leggen een zware hypotheek op de kwaliteit van onderwijs en de opleiding van onze toekomstige werknemers.


Het ACV verzet zich tegen elke maatregel die de kwaliteit van werken in onderwijs en het statuut van onderwijspersoneelsleden onderuithaalt, of raakt aan de vrijheid van onderwijs.

Het ACV roept de regeringen op om samen met hun respectievelijke onderwijsvakbonden een totaalvisie uit te werken om de actuele uitdagingen in onderwijs aan te pakken, de centrale rol van onderwijs te erkennen en hun vertrouwen uit te spreken in de onderwijspersoneelsleden zodat die in alle autonomie hun maatschappelijke rol kunnen opnemen.