Unions are today protesting against the plans negotiators working on the formation of a new federal government have for pensions. The protest is causing disruption in several quarters. A 24-hour strike is underway at state-owned rail company NMBS with a skeleton service being provided till 10PM on Monday. Public transport in Brussels and the education sector are badly affected too. A demonstration in the centre of Brussels started at 11 am. People who do not need to be in the capital today have been advised to stay away.
30,000 people take part in the union demo in defence of pensions in Brussels
An estimated 30,000 trades unionists paraded through the streets of Brussels on Monday as part of the demonstration against the future federal government's pension plans. The figure comes from the Brussels police service. Organising unions say the demo is about ‘more than 30,000’.
According to the education ministry, over 34,000 people from the education sector attended the march in Brussels today directed against the pension plans of negotiators working on the formation of a new federal government or took part in other protests. Also, at rail company NMBS, postal service bpost, at Brussels Airport and in prisons, workers walked out.
2 out of 3 IC trains are not be running. 40 per cent of scheduled flights at Brussels Airport have been cancelled. Police are asking people to avoid Brussels as much as possible today, especially by car.
Still, motorists experienced a very busy morning rush hour in Brussels and the same is expected this evening.
Brussels’ roads were very busy this morning, with long traffic jams, especially on the Inner Orbital Ring Road ‘Kleine Ring’ says Inge Paemen, spokeswoman for Brussels Mobility.
Accidents have not yet been reported, but a number of tunnels were closed -temporarily- because they could not cope with the volume of traffic.
As the demonstration set off police closed several streets near Central Station: the Keizerslaan, Kantersteen and the Koloniënstraat.
Only 1 metro line in Brussels currently operating!
There is a reduced frequency of services on the Brussels metro today. This morning, only 1 metro line is in service: metro line 1, which has been extended to Erasmus.
Anyone wishing to use MIVB services had best check the status of the network at the time of travel, the transport company says.
In Limburg half the schools are closed and De Lijn public transport is hit, especially around Hasselt.
In Ghent there are problems with refuse collection and swimming pools are closed for the day. It's more or less the same story in Antwerp.
The first demontrators arive on the Poelaertplein (VIDEO).
Vooruit MPs march in demonstration against their own party's plans
Several Flemish social lawmakers joined the big trade union demo in Brussels today. The protest targets the plans of the parties negotiating a new Belgian government including Flemish socialist Vooruit.
‘We very well understand that people are worried based on what they hear and read,’ says MP Oskar Seuntjens.
Quizzed about their participation Mr Seuntjens was keen to bring nuance. ‘I wouldn't call it protesting. We are here mainly to show respect and precisely to explain what we are doing at the negotiating table.’
Future opposition join demo
Leaders of the future opposition parties are also present. Francophone socialist Paul Magnette (PS) and Flemish green leader Bart Dhondt (Groen) are taking part.
‘Teachers deserve our appreciation instead of a loss of purchasing power. Women and the long-term sick will also foot the bill of these right-wing plans. The centre-right is aiming its austerity arrows at the wrong target groups,’ Mr Dhondt explained.
A sea of protesters have gathered in Brussels (VIDEO).
