Next week, on 24, 25 and 26 November, unions are staging actions against the De Wever I government's reform packages. It is becoming increasingly clear what the scale of the disruption will be.
On Tuesday 25 November, the strike focuses on public services.
The extent of the disruption to the education sector 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.
At Belgium’s partially privatised postal service Bpost, the disruption should be limited. The unions have agreed not actively to call for strike action, as the strike falls during one of the busiest weeks of the year, with the feast of Saint Nicholas and the end-of-year festivities approaching. Bpost is already deploying extra staff during this period to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
On Tuesday 25 November, the strike will also have an impact on the output of Flemish public broadcaster VRT that operates flandersnews.be. Newscasts will be shorter and at least one programme will be cancelled, according to the public broadcaster's press service. After midday, there will be no differentiated or regional news on any radio networks.
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.
Train services will be disrupted for three days due to the strike. The rail unions have called on rail staff to take part in a 72-hour strike, which will begin 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 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 consulting its route planner on the day itself.
Public transport in Brussels will also be severely disrupted on 24, 25 and 26 November, according to the Brussels local transport company MIVB. The transport company says it will ensure at least part of its services but advises passengers to look for alternative solutions for travel in Brussels on those days.
The socialist trade union has submitted a three-day strike notice for the police. It is not yet clear whether disruption is expected and how severe it will be.