Strike on Monday to disrupt transport in Brussels and airport

Strike action planned for Monday is likely to cause widespread travel chaos across the country and bring Brussels to a standstill. The strike is part of an on-going programme of trade union actions in protest at the federal government’s austerity policies, particularly changes to pensions and the social security system.

Monday’s strike is expected to cause large-scale disruption to domestic and international rail services, as well as public transport in Brussels and flights from Brussels Airport. The action is part of a series of provincial strikes and will see workers taking to the streets in Brussels, Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant, but public transport is likely to be disrupted across the country.

National train services are likely to be seriously affected beginning on Sunday at 22.00 until the same time on Monday, a spokesperson for NMBS said. The strike has also shut down international train services, with no Eurostar or Thalys trains running on Monday.

The impact on the MIVB public transport system in Brussels depends on the level of support for the strike, but there are fears that the entire network could be shut down. Travellers are advised to go to the NMBS website and its Twitter and Facebook accounts for live updates on the day and “to look for alternative methods of transport”.

Airport authorities have said that the strike action could cause disruption to flights on Monday. Travel operators have already moved several flights from Brussels Airport to other airports such as Lille, Ostend and Charleroi. Passengers with flights booked for Monday are advised to contact their airline or tour operator for more information.

Strike action is also expected to close many banks, along with chain stores such as Delhaize, Carrefour, Cora and Mediamarkt. Many companies and organisations are also likely to strike on the day, including Belgacom, bpost and the Flemish public broadcaster VRT. Schools are reported to be considering action and hospitals are putting in place a weekend schedule.

More disruption is expected the following week: On December 11, NMBS will strike for 24 hours starting at 15.00, with no rail service across the country. A massive national strike is planned for December 15, which will shut down transport and many businesses across the country.

Unions, meanwhile, have rejected the latest compromises offered by Kris Peeters, the federal minister of work and the economy. The government, said Peeters, was prepared to postpone some of the measures, such as the raising of the age for “bridge pensions”, which comes into effect for workers when a company closes down. Bridge pensions are currently offered at age 53.5 but will go up to age 60 by 2016.

Peeters said they could postpone the change in age for bridge pensions to 2020, as well as postpone the scrapping of benefits for college graduates who have not yet found a job.

“The new compromises do not change anything fundamentally,” responded ACV union spokesperson Koen Meesters. “Postponement doesn’t change the measure.”

The government says the new policies are essential to make Belgium competitive and balance the budget.

photo: Businesses across East and West Flanders shut down during last Monday’s provincial strike

©VTM