WRAP Union organised protest against rising living costs, Commission sot

(11 Jun 2008) SHOTLIST AP TELEVISION Namur 1. Wide top shot of trade union protest marching through the streets with a banner reading (French) "Reinforce our purchasing power and solidarity" 2. Wide protesters walking past 3. Mid protester dressed up as a petrol pump, with the petrol nozzle as a gun, pointing to his head 4. Wide protesters dressed as petrol pumps running past the camera 5. SOUNDBITE (French) Louis, trade unionist and protester: "When no effort is being made to aid our purchasing power, it will be a catastrophe for the whole country. And I think the same is happening across all of Europe, when you see all that is happening at the moment, the demonstrations over fuel prices, the problems the truckers and fishermen are having - everyone can associate with this." 6. Wide top shop demonstration marching past 7. Mid protestors marching 8. SOUNDBITE (French) Cecile, trade unionist and protester: "We're a bit fed up with the rising cost of living when the fact is that our salaries are staying the same. At the end of the day what have we got? We have less and less to live off and the gap between the rich and the poor is growing. Unfortunately we are part of the poor, therefore it's imperative that we fight this." 9. Wide protestors carrying a large model Euro symbol 10. Close model Euro with a petrol can and an electrical plug 11. Mid two women watching the demonstration walking past 12. SOUNDBITE (French) Fernande, on-looker: "They are absolutely right (to march). The government needs to do more. Otherwise things will just become impossible." 13. Mid protestors blowing horns 14. Mid top shot of demonstration passing, protesters waving flags 15. Wide top shot demonstration passing ++NEW (FIRST RUN 1230 NEWS UPDATE - 11 JUNE 2008) EBS Brussels 16. Wide of European Commission briefing 17. SOUNDBITE (French) Johannes Laitenberger, Spokesperson for Commission: "It is important to understand that the European Commission is very alive to the concerns being voiced in Europe that there is a need for an efficient response to the problems faced by citizens." 18. Cutaway reporters at briefing 19. SOUNDBITE (French) Johannes Laitenberger, Spokesperson for Commission: "Something that is important in the short term, the Commission considers that member states may and must introduce targeted measures that support the poorest of it's poorest citizens who are the hardest hit by the current situation." 20. Mid of reporters STORYLINE Thousands of workers took to the streets of Namur, Belgium, on Wednesday to protest over the high cost of living. Carrying banners, balloons and flags, the protestors blew whistles, chanted slogans and let off fire-crackers. Brought together by various Belgian trade unions, the protesters dressed in union colours of red and green. Some protesters wore fancy dress. "We're a bit fed up with the rising cost of living when the fact is that our salaries are staying the same," Cecile, a protester, said. The demonstration was part of a week-long protest across Belgium, organised by the unions to highlight the imbalance many people are facing between lowering salaries and the rising cost of living. Their complaint is directed mainly towards the federal Belgian government, calling on them to reform social standards. Some locals were happy to see the protesters out on the streets. "They are absolutely right (to march). The government needs to do more. Otherwise things will just become impossible," Fernande, an onlooker told AP Television. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...