Railway unions have demanded an emergency meeting with Federal Minister of Mobility Georges Gilkinet to convey their disappointment with the 'unsatisfactory' investment of €3 billion into Belgian railways by the government.
Having gone on a 24-hour strike earlier this month to demand better resources for railway workers, the Federal Government had promised clarity on funding in their upcoming budget.
The government then announced a €3 billion investment in the railway sector over the next ten years. However, the unions claim that these "financial means are much lower than the reality of the demands (€4 billion) outlined by the minister and the companies."
Furthermore, they added that €3 billion will "not allow growth in the transport offer, does not contribute to the improvement of the quality of public service and of the working conditions of railway workers”.
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As a result, the union have urgently requested a meeting with Gilkinet and the CEOs of both Infrabel and SNCB “in order to express their worries and concerns about the real impact of the decisions, both for the railway workers and for the quality of public service”.
In response, the Mobility Minister has offered a meeting to the unions on Twitter but will have to move wisely as unions have vowed to continue their strike actions if the outcome of these talks is not satisfactory.
Translation of tweet: "I will be meeting the railway unions shortly. I have even proposed to see them this morning. Since the beginning of the legislature, I have been working to get our trains back on track. The decision of yesterday's talks is part of the same desire!"
