Next week, on 24, 25 and 26 November, Belgium’s trade unions are staging industrial action against the federal government's reform drive. The scale of the disruption is becoming increasingly clear.
On Wednesday 26 November a so-called national, interprofessional strike is being called.
No passenger flights will depart from Zaventem on Wednesday 26 November. Brussels Airport expects a large proportion of security staff and baggage handling staff will take part in the national strike. Disruption is also expected for arriving flights. Brussels Airport is calling on travellers not to come to the airport and says airlines will inform passengers directly.
The extent of the disruption to education is still unclear. The education unions have announced that they will participate in at least one of the three strike days. The socialist union even plans to down tools on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
Rail traffic will be disrupted for three days due to the strike. The railway unions have called on NMBS staff to take part in a 72-hour strike, which will start on Sunday 23 November at 10 p.m. and continue until the last train on Wednesday evening, 26 November. An alternative timetable is being drawn up. According to the state-owned rail copany NMBS, the train service will be visible in its route planner 24 hours in advance.
From Monday to Wednesday, there will be fewer De Lijn buses and trams running throughout Flanders. An alternative timetable is being drawn up and will be available from Saturday evening, 22 November. Updates for Monday will be announced on Saturday evening, for Tuesday on Sunday evening and for Wednesday on Monday evening. As some services may be cancelled unexpectedly, De Lijn recommends checking the route planner on the day itself.
Public transport in Brussels will also be severely disrupted on 24, 25 and 26 November, according to the MIVB. The transport company says it will certainly ensure part of the service but advises travellers to look for alternative solutions for travel in Brussels on those days.
The socialist trade union has submitted a three-day strike notice to the police. It is not yet clear whether disruption is expected and how severe it will be.
In prisons, the trade unions are calling for a strike on Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 November. The strike will start on Monday evening, 24 November, at 10 p.m.
There will also be strikes here and there in the private sector, although the impact there is not yet very clear.