Trades unionists from across the EU are gathering in Brussels today to protest against austerity measures. The protest is causing disruption to both public transport and refuse collection in the capital. The European Trade Union Federation Confederation says that governments in no fewer than 14 EU member states are having to tighten their belts to the tune of a total of 45 billion euro. It bases its figures on data from the European Commission.
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Public transport and refuse collection disrupted as European trades unionists demonstrate in Brussels
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The demonstration starts at the Poelaertplein outside the Brussels Courthouse and ends on the Jean Reyplein in Brussels’ European district.
Public transport
The Brussels public transport company MIVB says that there is major disruption to its services. Some staff are taking part in the demonstration and will not report for work. Furthermore, the route of the demonstration crosses several bus and tram routes, meaning that, if they are running, they will have to be diverted.
The following routes are running: metro lines 1 and 5, tram routes 3,4,7,8,9,51 and 92 and bus routes 12 (Airport Line), 36, 46 (only between Moortebeek and Anneessens), 50, 53, 56, 59, 65, 73, 71, 87, 88 and 95. Bus route 87 will terminate at Zwarte Vijfers to allow passengers from Ganshoren and Koekelberg to get there rather than at Simonis/Elisabeth where there are no metro services today.
As the demonstration passes, busses and trams that are running could be delayed.
The Brussels public transport company MIVB is providing real-time information on its website www.mivb.be (also available in English), its app and via its customer service department that can be contacted on 070 23 2000.
Refuse collection
The Brussels refuse collection service Net Brussel says that there could be issues with rubbish collections today. Several municipalities, including Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe and Schaarbeek have their waste collected on a Tuesday and collections may not take place if staff join the demonstration.
Net Brussel asks the public to take any rubbish bags that have not been collected back inside.