Several rail unions are in consultation to better coordinate their strike plans. These will likely take place on fewer days but with greater impact.
A week-long rail strike is currently underway, which will immediately be followed by a general strike affecting train travel on Monday 31 March, and sporadic, alternating mobilisations organised by various unions.
Belgium's two largest railway unions, ACOD Spoor and ACV-Transcom, will organise 18 days of strikes between now and July while the smaller ASTB-SACT said it wants to strike for six days in April and two weeks per month from May.
Because of the chaotic nature of the current plans, several rail unions are in consultation to better coordinate their strike plans.
Instead of the many different days of action that have been announced for the coming months, there would be fewer but more coordinated strikes.
However, this presumable means they will have a greater impact on train traffic.
Joint front?
One union said the "new common trade union front" has already been formed, but other unions are more cautious. "The possibility is being considered," said Werner Baetsleer, federal chair of VSOA-Spoor.
"We are in discussions, but it could go either way," Pierre Lejeune, chair of the socialist railway union CGSP Cheminots/ACOD Spoor, said he sees the possibility of a new union front in the coming days. "I think there will be a consensus to organise ourselves differently."
According to Koen De Mey, chairman of ACV-Transcom, at least five of the six railway unions would participate in the front. It is not clear whether the small union Metisp-Protect, which is currently in a week-long strike, will join.
If the joint union front is created, VSOA-Spoor, OVS and ASTB would abandon their action plans and join the plan of the largest unions, ACOD Spoor and ACV-Transcom, before April. They want to strike on 8, 15, 22 and 29 April.
Lejeune said the April strikes would be organised by district, starting with the southeast and northwest, followed by the centre, the southwest and northeast; and finally, on 29 April, the whole country. However, strike notices apply to the entire network and all railway workers, meaning strikes can occur in other regions too.
Related News
- General strike travel disruptions expected in Flanders and Wallonia
- Week-long rail strike: Disruption on Wednesday similar to Tuesday
- General strike: 'Major disruptions' expected on Brussels public transport on Monday
The unions are protesting against Federal Government plans, including raising the retirement age, budget cuts and the potential dismantling of HR Rail, the legal employer of railway staff. The unions will meet with railway directors and Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) on Friday to kick off negotiations on urgent issues.
