Eurotoday — Leuven – In a symbolic protest against deteriorating working conditions, the ACV trade union distributed cacti to shop assistants in Leuven and four other towns across Flemish Brabant. The initiative, which unfolded on April 29, 2025, aimed to highlight the increasingly harsh realities of retail work and criticise the policies of De Wever’s government, which the union claims have exacerbated the situation.
The cactus, known for surviving in tough environments, was chosen to reflect the “prickly” and resilient nature of shop assistants’ working conditions. ACV trade union leader Johan Vervoort stated that the gesture was meant to represent the difficulties faced by workers under current government labor policies.
“We’re seeing retail workers pushed to be more flexible—working longer hours, often with little notice—and yet their compensation and job security remain unchanged,” Vervoort said. “They feel overworked, undervalued, and unsupported.”
The campaign unfolded throughout shopping streets and commercial centers in an effort to spark dialogue among the public and stakeholders. The union is drawing attention to issues such as irregular working hours, low wages, limited job security, and pressure to remain available despite personal or family commitments.
Instead of calling a strike, ACV opted for this creative awareness campaign. Kathy De Roover, the campaign organiser, explained: “We don’t want to disrupt the country. We want to humanize the people behind the retail counters and make their voices heard.”
The cactus also serves a dual symbolic purpose. It references Belgium’s “Arizona Coalition,” a political alignment known for budget cuts and reduced social welfare measures. By linking the cactus to both the working environment and government policy, the ACV union is accusing both employers and politicians of creating an increasingly unforgiving “desert” for workers.
As union members pushed carts full of cacti through busy retail hubs, reactions among shop staff were mixed.
“I don’t care much about what the government does to us. But it’s nice that I got a cactus,” one shop assistant commented, highlighting both skepticism and appreciation.
Another worker remarked, “I do worry, for example, about my pension. Something has to change,” suggesting deeper concerns about long-term consequences of current policies.
The ACV hopes the initiative will draw public attention to the struggles of retail workers and pave the way for improved employment conditions in the sector.
Eurotoday is a daily online news platform based in Belgium, offering independent coverage of European and international affairs. With a broad continental perspective, Eurotoday reports on EU policies, national developments across Member States, and key global issues through a European lens.
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