Around 400 teachers and students from EU schools in Brussels staged a half-day strike to protest the employment conditions for locally hired teachers, particularly the lack of union representation and a pension plan.
EU schools cater to approximately 28,000 children of EU institution staff and diplomats, including notable alumni like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Half of the teaching staff are provided by EU member states, while the other half—those targeted by the strike—are locally hired, earn less, and are not protected under EU law.
"We lack official teacher status, a teachers’ pension, and the right to unionize," said Belgian Social Sciences teacher Lucile Henry. "It's embarrassing," she added.
The protesters, which included parents, are calling for a legal framework that would facilitate union delegation, enabling teachers to organize and advocate for their rights.
Andreas Beckmann, Secretary-General of EU schools, stated that many of the requests could be easily translated into concrete proposals and highlighted the existing "well-established social dialogue with elected staff representations."
Tom Holvoet, union secretary of the Christian trade union ACV Puls, emphasized that forming an actual union would be a crucial first step toward improving the conditions for locally hired teachers.
A final full-day strike is scheduled for April 1st.