Belgium’s railway unions that have already taken strike action 23 times so far this year in protest against the De Wever I government's pension plans are going to suspend their protest actions. They have agreed to start negotiations with pensions minister Jan Jambon (Flemish nationalist N-VA) and during these negotiations there will be no strikes, unions say in a joint press release from ACOD Spoor, ACV Transcom, VSOA Spoor, OVS and ASTB.
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Rail unions suspend strikes: no new protests while negotiations are ongoing
Colin Clapson
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The unions will now consult their rank and file on the preliminary agreement they reached with mobility minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Francophone centrist Les Engagés) last week. They will also now negotiate with pensions minister Jan Jambon. In the meantime, strikes are suspended.
Günther Blauwens of the socialist union ACOD Spoor. ‘We are now providing time and space to inform and hear the views of our people, and to negotiate with Mr Jambon.’ According to Mr Blauwens, negotiations with Jambon will start in May.
If all parties fulfil their commitments, ACOD Spoor, ACV Transcom, VSOA Spoor, OVS and ASTB say it is ‘possible that no further actions will be planned during the exam period’.
Mr Blauwens stresses that there is no agreement yet, neither with minister Crucke nor with minister Jambon. He clarified that his ACOD Spoor union will participate in the general strike in the public sector, on 20 May.