The French-speaking education sector's 48-hour strike is entering its second day on Tuesday 28 January. While no large-scale demonstration will be causing chaos in Brussels, classes are still expected to be impacted.
United in a common front, the unions organised a 48-hour strike across all schools in Wallonia and Brussels. The last time this happened was 28 years ago. Monday was marked by school closures, chaotic organisation of daycare to ensure some stability for pupils and a large protest in Brussels.
A total of 30,000 people (35,000 according to the unions) marched through the capital to voice their discontent with the regional government's plans. "In total, we think around 50,000 people went on strike across the two regions," Roland Lahaye, General Secretary of the CSC Enseignement, told The Brussels Times. He noted that not all striking staff attended the protest. Due to the large turnout on Monday, the impact on schools was significant.
Protesting teachers passed in front of the MR headquarters on Avenue de la Toison d'Or on Monday 27 January 2025. Credit: Belga/ Dirk Waem
The strike action will continue on Tuesday, but there will be no demonstration in Brussels. "We therefore expect slightly fewer people to go on strike, but still, around 30,000 to 40,000 teaching staff have said they will put down their work on Tuesday."
Actions will be more local, Lahaye confirmed. "These will be actions at the school level, including local pickets." A human chain will cross the city of Liège, from the Tour des Finances to the statue of Charlemagne.
In Walloon Brabant, leaflets will be distributed at traffic lights and on several roundabouts, drawing attention to teachers' concerns. Smaller protests and actions are expected in Arlon, Namur and Tournai.
The 48-hour strike has already brought many schools to a standstill and will continue to do so on Tuesday. But pupils will still be able to attend, as schools must guarantee that all pupils can attend, at least for supervision activities.
Unions are mobilising teachers to denounce the new MR-Engagés government's plans for the upcoming legislature (in particular, the end of the status of teachers from 2027) as well as the cost-cutting measures decreed for 2025, most of which impact qualifying teachers.
