Belgium is bracing for widespread disruption across all sectors including public transport and schools this week as unions call a three-day national strike.
The action was called in response to Prime Minister Bart de Wever’s efforts to reduce Belgium’s debt by changing labor laws and reforming unemployment benefits and pensions.
Teachers, medical staff and waste collectors will all join the industrial action which is set to culminate in a general strike on Wednesday.
Eurostar is among the organizations warning of potential disruption, while the two main airports have advised customers that all departing flights on Wednesday will be cancelled.
The country had already been the victim of several attacks since De Wever, a Flemish nationalist, took over in February at the head of a centre-right coalition government aimed at cutting the budget deficit.
Early Monday, his government reached a budget agreement, which he said was the only way to “guarantee the sustainability” of Belgium’s welfare state.
The country’s budget deficit at the end of last year was 4.5% of GDP and debt was 104.7% of GDP.
EU budget rules stipulate that member states must keep their budget deficit below 3% and debt below 60% to maintain strong public finances.
According to AFP news agency, this week’s industrial action is scheduled to take place in three phases:
- Trains and other public transport went on strike on Monday, with national rail company SNCB expected to run one or two of three trains, and several Eurostar services linking Brussels with Paris were cancelled.
- On Tuesday, public services like schools, crèches and hospitals get involved
- A full general strike on Wednesday covers all categories including the two main airports, Brussels-Zaventum and Charleroi.
Warning of the impact of strike action in Belgium, Eurostar reported that it had resulted in delays to some of its other international services.
Defending the action, the general workers union FGTB said that a demonstration in Brussels two weeks earlier had been met with “complete silence” from the government.
Fair pension is a main issue cited by the unions, while other demands include a fair wealth tax, tax on digital activities for tech giants and transparent screening of subsidies to companies.
A day of action against violence against women was held separately on Sunday, which the FGTB described as part of the current crackdown.
Brussels-Zaventem Airport said it expected “major disruption” to operations on Wednesday as all departure flights were canceled and some cancellations for incoming flights were also possible.
The airport said staff at their security and handling service provider are expected to take part in national industrial action.
Charleroi airport has similarly said it will be able to operate neither scheduled departures nor arrivals on the day of the general strike – as it also warned passengers of possible disruption to the public service network for the duration of the strike.
The city of Brussels has warned of “disrupted services” on its public transport links during the three days of action, while De Lijn, the transport company operating in Flanders, has advised that there will be “reduced bus and tram services”.
<a href=