The 2 biggest rail unions, the socialist trade union ACOD Spoor and the Christian trade union ACV-Transcom, have announced that their members will be taking strike action on several days each month between March and July. The strikes will be in addition to the industrial action announced earlier this week by other rail unions.
2 biggest rail unions issue strike notice covering the period from March to July
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The announcement that ACV Transcom and ACOD Spoor will be taking strike action came after a meeting with the federal transport minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Francophone centrist) on Thursday.
Both unions supported Thursday’s demonstration in which tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Brussels to protest against the new federal government’s proposals. These include raising the retirement of rail staff. The rail unions will also be taking part in, the general strike planned for 31 March. Plans for additional strike action during the coming months will be submitted to the union’s respective national committees for approval.
Despite having issued a strike notice, the unions stress that they are open to dialogue and further meetings with the transport minister are planned. The rail unions also want talks with the pensions minister Jan Jambon (Flemish nationalist) about the government’s pension reform plans.
Smaller unions also to strike
Two smaller railway unions, OVS and ASTB, have already announced separate strikes. OVS is calling on staff to strike from 21 February at 10 pm to 2 March at 10 pm, while the train drivers' union ASTB is plans a strike from 23 February at 10 pm until 28 February at 10 pm.