A strike by staff at the Flemish public transport company De Lijn in Antwerp Province has led to 40% of bus and tram services in the province being cancelled. The unions are staging 1-day strikes in each of the 5 Flemish provinces this week in protest at additional funding cuts that have been announced by the Flemish Government.
A total of 35.5 million euro of cuts are being made on public transport funding in Flanders. Most of the savings will be made by reducing services provided by the Flemish public transport company De Lijn. Services on routes that are used by an average of 8 passengers per journey could face the axe.
The unions are protesting against the additional cuts that are being imposed on De Lijn by the Flemish Government.
Stan Reusen of the socialist public service union ACOD told VRT News that "Not only our passenger are affected, but staff at De Lijn are having to pay a high price too with a big reduction in services and employment”.
Antwerp tram services hardest hit by the strike
Across the province around 40% of services have been cancelled due to the strike. De Lijn’s Marco Demerling says that the impact of the action varies from area to area.
For example, in the Kempen area of the province 90% of services are running. In Mechelen this is 70%, while in Antwerp City fewer than half of tram services are running.
Strike in Flemish Brabant on Wednesday
On Wednesday there will be a 1-day strike by De Lijn’s staff in Flemish Brabant. This will be followed by strikes in Limburg on Thursday and East Flanders on Friday.
De Lijn will publish an alternative timetable at least 24 hours ahead of the start of the strikes. The alternative timetable can be view on the public transport company’s website or in its app.