A country-wide general strike will grind Belgium to a halt on Monday 31 March, as workers in both the private and public sectors will protest against the new Federal Government's budget cuts. What disruptions are expected?
The socialist trade union FGTB/ABVV and Christian union CSC/ACV have called for a general strike on 31 March. It will cause disruptions across the entire country as flights are cancelled, public transport will be disrupted, and employees will take to the streets to denounce the anti-social measures in the coalition agreement.
"Some of the measures in the agreement affect all of us directly. Too many measures are cuts to those who are already struggling. Too many measures are aimed at dismantling our pensions. Too few burdens are borne by the strongest shoulders," said the CSC/ACV union. "We need to show solidarity with everyone who is severely affected by this."
The unions are calling on employees in all sectors to strike and organise actions. Several teachers' unions confirmed that they would be taking part in the strike, while picket lines blocking access to business parks are also expected across the country. Police and prisons have also issued strike notices for Monday, as has Bpost.
How big the impact will be remains to be seen.
No flights
Brussels Airport announced earlier this week that no passenger flights will depart from Zaventem on Monday: the 244 flights that were scheduled to depart have all been cancelled. Cancellations are also possible on arriving flights.
They advise all passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline or on the website or the app. The flight overview on the website will show cancellations only once they are registered by the airline.
Additionally, all flights departing from and arriving at Charleroi Airport (BSCA) will be cancelled on Monday, the airport announced. Due to a shortage of staff, the safety of operations cannot be ensured. Passengers will be contacted by their airline for a rebooking or refund.
Credit: Belga / Thierry Roge
Brussels Airlines also confirmed that almost all of its 200 flights have been cancelled, except for a dozen arriving flights. "We will retain 10% of inbound flights," said a spokesperson. This concerns some intra-European flights from Germany, Italy and Spain, among others.
Travellers had already been given the option last week to rebook their Monday flight for free or ask for a refund. Airline TUI fly, another major player at Brussels Airport, is mapping out options to allow its Monday flights to depart from alternative airports, according to spokesperson Piet Demeyere.
Disrupted public transport
Brussels' public transport operator STIB/MIVB confirmed that it is expecting "major disruptions" on its metro, tram and bus lines. Two STIB unions are inviting their members to participate in the strike, and many STIB personnel will likely take part in this action.
The exact extent of the disruption cannot be predicted at this time. STIB/MIVB usually posts an update about the traffic situation early in the morning on the day of the strike, on its website and social media channels. During the last major strike on 13 February, just two metro lines were running.
Flemish public transport company De Lijn is also expecting disruption to its buses and trams on the day of the strike. While it is not clear yet which buses and trams will run, the company said that fewer buses and trams will run in Flanders.
De Lijn is working out an alternative service, which will be available to view on its website from the evening of Saturday 29 March. The route planner (on the website or in the app) will show whether buses or trams are running, but there may be "differences between advance communication and reality on the day of action."
Credit: Belga / Laurie Dieffembacq
Wallonia's public transport operator TEC also fears "major disruptions" to its network on Monday. "Information on cancelled routes will only be provided on the same day on the timetable search on the website and the app."
Train traffic will be disrupted as well, announced Belgium's national railway operator SNCB/NMBS. While the week-long strike of the independent railway union METISP-Protect is coming to an end on Sunday evening, the country's two major rail unions ACOD Spoor and ACV-Transcom will take part in the general strike on Monday, meaning fewer trains will run.
The precise impact, however, will only become clear on Saturday. SNCB/NMBS expects to have an idea of the disruption on Saturday 29 March, and will update its route planner (via its website and app) accordingly.
Rubbish collection
The Brussels Cleanliness Agency said on Thursday that it expects disruptions to its services during the strike. "It is difficult to specify the extent to which these actions will impact public service, waste collection rounds are likely to suffer from the situation," a press release states.
Despite this risk, the organisation encourages affected residents and businesses to present their bags according to their usual collection schedule. Catch-up rounds will be scheduled in the event of non-collection on Monday.
Other services such as container waste collections, Recypark, Proxy Chimik rounds and bulky waste collections at home may also be affected. The Cleanliness Agency says it will provide real-time information to Brussels residents on the day.
Rubbish in the Brabant quarter. Credit: The Brussels Times
Local services
Municipal councils will also take part in the general strike, but a minimum service will be provided in household waste collection, residential care centres and childcare, said Nathalie Debast of the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG). Those services will be similar to the ones provided on Sunday.
Not all municipalities are striking (to the same degree), she added. Citizens should check their own municipality's website or social media to see what the impact is. "Generally, there is more willingness to strike in larger cities than in small municipalities."
The city of Antwerp, for example, already announced that there might be disruptions to household waste collection. The city is asking residents who have their collection on Sunday evening or Monday to not put out their rubbish until the next collection, if possible.
Teachers and schools
One in five teachers in Flanders (primary and secondary schools) will participate in the strike, reports Belga News Agency. Exactly 20% of surveyed teachers said they would not go to work on Monday, while 5% said they are still undecided and 1% would rather not say.
The teacher unions are protesting against the new Federal Government's pension plans. Their pensions will soon be calculated in the same way as those of private-sector workers. Under the old system, teachers reached a full pension faster.
An empty classroom due to a strike of the teachers on Monday 13 January 2025. Credit: Belga/ Dirk Waem
This will be the third education strike in a row. At the strike on 13 January, more than 34,000 Flemish teachers participated – a historically high number.
The Education Association of Cities and Municipalities (OVSG) conducted a survey of school boards and predicts that six in ten urban and municipal schools will feel no or little effect from Monday's strike. About 30% of schools will teach but will provide daycare, and 10% will be closed without care. "The vast majority of parents will be able to let their children go to school or daycare at school as usual."
Flemish public broadcaster
While Monday's general strike is unlikely to have any impact on Flemish public broadcaster VRT's programming, many of the staff will not work on Monday, and the unions will still bring a message before some news broadcasts.
Before the news programmes at 13:00 and 19:00, a message about the strike will appear on people's screens. A message will also be played before the start of the main radio news broadcasts. The broadcasts will start slightly later as a result.
Additionally, the unions announced a picket line in front of the entrance to the VRT building.
Reyers tower at the site of the VRT Flemish public broadcasting company. Credit: Belga
Disrupted nautical chain
Shipping pilots, shipping escorts and rescue services will also participate, but the impact on the nautical chain will only become clear on Sunday evening, reported the trade unions on Friday. As it was an announced strike, several ships have pre-emptively nee, diverted towards ports in the Netherlands and France. Still, quite a few ships may have to wait on Monday.
Pilots are striking mainly against the government's pension plans: a young sea or river pilot would receive 45% less pension when they retire. In total, there are about 300 pilots in Belgium.
Cultural sector
The Flemish cultural and arts sector will also strike against planned federal reforms in pensions and unemployment benefits. This will happen simultaneously with the national strike of the trade unions on Monday. "Pensions, art work allowance and wages are being reconsidered. As a union, we cannot let that pass, so we are co-calling for action."
The artists fear the reforms will have a major effect on pensions and benefits. "The new government wants art workers to work 156 days a year to be entitled to a full pension. This is impossible for many artists, resulting in sharply reduced pensions."
Many artists will perform poetry, music and theatre from 10:00 to 13:00 at Place de la Monnaie in Brussels and from 11:00 to 14:00 at the Operaplein in Antwerp. The programme will include various musical acts, poetry readings and theatre pieces.
Impacted companies
A general strike also means an impact on companies and businesses: unions will set up picket lines across the country. A number of companies are already certain to close, such as steel company Aperam in Genk or Nike's distribution centre in Laakdal.
Other companies will opt for a more playful or alternative form of protest, such as handing out cactuses at drug distributor Febelco in Sint-Niklaas or a sit-down action at steel construction company Victor Buyck in Eeklo and Wondelgem.
A number of supermarkets will also keep their doors closed. The exact impact remains unclear, but at least some Carrefour shops in the province of Antwerp (Schoten, Borsbeek, Schilde and Edegem) and the Lidl shop in Balen will remain closed for at least several hours.
The Brussels Times will be providing live coverage of the general strike on Monday. Keep a close eye on our homepage and social media for regular updates on the day.
