A nationwide strike will be held on Monday 13 January, with workers from all sectors taking to the streets. Here's what you need to know about the action and its impact.
Trade unions representing the transport sector, the education sector, the national prison service and more have invited its members to take part in a national strike to protest the next government's probable pension reforms.
"The measures on the table represent unprecedented attacks on all working men and women," trade union CSC said. "Wage freezes, indexation reform, longer working hours and more precarious contracts, austerity, cuts to public services and ecological investments: nothing will be spared for Belgians, not even pensioners."
Strike participants will gather at Place de l'Albertine in Brussels at 10:00 on Monday morning, but the official action kicks off from 22:00 on Sunday until 22:00 on Monday. Huge numbers have prompted the Flemish socialist trade union ACOD to express concern about transporting all participants to the protest. "The subject is very heated, but we won't have everyone in Brussels," according to ACOD president Chris Reniers.
Multiple services across the country will grind to a halt as a result of the demonstration.
Flights delayed and cancelled
Brussels Airport expects a "major impact" on Monday. "A large number of flights will have to be cancelled or rescheduled," spokesperson Ihsane Chioua Lekhli told Belga News Agency. "The airlines will contact the passengers of the affected flights directly about this."
Airlines are looking into the extent of the disruption.
Meanwhile, unions representing shipping pilots say the impact on ferries will be "limited".
Adapted public transport
Credit: Belga
Train services will be heavily disrupted on Monday, railway operator SNCB has confirmed. Along with partner company Infrabel, SNCB is preparing an adjusted rail service based on non-striking staff. The plan will be announced on Saturday and will be available on SNCB’s online journey planner from Sunday.
Brussels public transport operator STIB is also expecting serious disruptions. It is trying to guarantee at least part of its service but has asked passengers to find alternative modes of transport where possible.
No disruptions are currently expected by the Flemish public transport company De Lijn.
No rubbish collection
Brussels residents have been warned that their rubbish may not be collected on Monday. Nevertheless, Bruxelles-Propreté (the Brussels agency responsible for public cleaning) have advised residents and businesses in impacted areas are still advised to stick to the normal schedule.
Credit: Belga / ImageGlobe
If the bags are not collected, it is recommended to leave them in front of the residence, since catch-up rounds will be organised "depending on available human resources".
Other services may also be affected, including container waste collections from businesses and apartment complexes, Recyparks (the dump), chemical waste collection and home collections of bulky items.
More than 20,000 teachers to take part
Over 20,000 teachers have registered to take part in the strike, according to Koen Van Kerkhoven, head of the Christian Teachers' Union. The planned pension reforms "contain too many elements that we are worried about," he said.
A survey published by the Association of Flemish Education Managers (VLVO) on Friday indicated that 35.51% of schools in Flanders will "probably" close on strike day.
Based on results from 654 school principals surveyed, primary schools seem to be predominantly affected. Across all education levels, 24% of respondents said lessons would not continue and 8% said school may close.
In addition, parents have expressed understanding for the striking teachers, according to VLVO. 23% of school principals say they have received considerate responses from parents.
Credit: Belga
The French-speaking students' federation (FEF) has on called for the postponement of higher education exams scheduled for Monday due to the impact of the strike on both public transport and education workers.
"While the FEF firmly supports the union mobilisations against the future Arizona government, it calls on higher education institutions to demonstrate responsibility by postponing the exams scheduled for that day," it stated on Friday. "The announced disruptions risk preventing many students from going to their exam locations, thus compromising their academic success."
Prisons on strike - again
Credit: Belga/ Nicolas Maeterlinck
Prison staff, a sector that is repeatedly on strike, are also taking part. Their action will last from 22:00 on Sunday until 06:00 on Tuesday.
Trade unions, who say staff are at risk of "antisocial and populist pension measures," are expecting a strong turnout.
"The determination is all the more because in addition to difficult working conditions and insufficient salaries, there is now the prospect of a lower pension at the end of a difficult career," said ACOD federal secretary Robby De Kaey.
This article was updated at 16:05 on Friday 10 January 2025.
