The small independent rail union Metisp-Protect has announced that it is to go ahead with its plan to stage a week of strike action between Sunday 27 April and Sunday 4 May. The action is in protest against the federal government’s pension reform plans and cuts on the railways.
Small independent rail union Metisp-Protect announces another week of strike action at the end of the month
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Metisp-Protect had already issued a strike notice covering industrial action by its members between 27 April and 4 May. In a statement released earlier on Friday the union confirmed that it is to go ahead with the strike. This follows talks (that are mandatory if a strike notice has been issued) with rail management on Thursday.
Metisp-Protect’s Farid Chkhachkhi told journalists that Belgian Railway’s management had asked the union to await the result of further talks between representatives of the rail unions, rail management and the relevant federal government ministers next week.However, as it doesn’t expect much if anything to emerge from the talks, Metisp-Protect plans to go ahead with its strike. Nevertheless, Mr Chkhachkhi adds that "Let it be clear we don’t wish to throw a spanner in the works regarding the talks. We have agreed to call off the strike if something emerges from the talks."
7 days of strike action
It will be the second time the Metisp-Protect will have organised a week of strike action against cutbacks on the railways and the federal government’s pension plans. The previous 7-day strike was at the end of March. The union says that it won’t change tack until the federal government withdraws its plans. However, Mr Chkhachkhi assures students that there won’t be any strikes during the exam period.
The five other rail unions also have plans to strike in the coming weeks. Their members will strike for 24 hours on 22 and 29 April. Last Tuesday rail strike was the 21st day of strike action on Belgium’s railways since the start of the year.