The president of the PS intends to mobilize the socialist forces in a context of tensions and social conflict which continues at Delhaize. A fully socialist party as he recalls. “There is a mock Liberal May Day. I go everywhere from Tournai, to Huy-Waremme, Charleroi, La Louvière, Thuin, to Namur for different events over the weekend. »
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On this May 1st, does the Delhaize conflict worry you?
“Workers are subject to the shareholders’ desire for profit. Previously, in this company, there was a family business climate and a human culture. A respectful social dialogue. And then… a shareholder wants more profit when the company is already making 2.5 billion in profits. They announce that they want to franchise more to reduce workers’ rights. It’s not acceptable. »
Are we going, with the franchise system, towards the end of the unions?
“There is a real desire with this type of approach to no longer have a counter-power to defend the rights of workers. »
How can you help workers currently faced with this type of process?
“We have to get out of a profit-driven logic and put the worker back at the center of his work. If that doesn’t change, we will continue to have terrible human damage. To this debate must be added that of better remuneration for work. The very essence of the socialist movement is to say that the worker must have the just fruit of his labor. »
What can you do at this level?
” We throw a petition to charge the ultra-rich: it can be signed digitally or by a paper stub. It’s a first step. We are also going to launch a “European citizens’ initiative”. We need to collect a million signatures in at least 7 European states to force the European Commission to table a legislative proposal. We have a year to do it. We are going to launch this petition at the beginning of May: we demand that the Commission submit a proposal for the taxation of wealth to finance the climate and social transition. Afterwards, obviously, there will have to be a whole debate in Parliament. »
Are other countries following you?
“So we want to have an action at the Belgian level and at the European level. Our French and Spanish comrades are already expressed in the same direction. »
But other initiatives exist, don’t they?
“There is another initiative with MEP Aurore Lalucq and French economist Gabriel Zucman who have called for fair taxation of the ultra-rich. This call for the creation of an international agreement allowing very large fortunes to be taxed was also signed by around twenty millionaires… Unfortunately, there are no Belgians. »
Are you appealing to Belgian millionaires?
“Obviously, I would like Marc Coucke and a few other Belgians to sign this petition. We now want to bring all these desires together. »
Could the PTB join you?
“We act with concrete acts and legislative proposals. If the other parties want to join us, they are welcome, but it is the socialists who are in charge. »
