Belgium will grind to a halt once again on Tuesday 29 April, as workers in both the private and public sectors will protest against the new Federal Government's budget cuts. What disruptions are expected?

Like in March, the Christian union CVC/ACV and socialist union FGTB/ABVV are again joining forces for a national day of action against the measures of the new 'Arizona' Federal Government, which they have been campaigning against for months.

"These measures undermine the rights of workers and undermine the foundations of social solidarity in Belgium," the unions said. They denounce the fact that people will have to work longer for lower pensions, that the civil servants' statute is being eroded, and cuts are being made to the cap for the unemployed and the long-term sick.

"In the face of a government that protects the interests of large companies and the richest at the expense of workers, pensioners, young people, women and the most vulnerable, we are calling for massive resistance across the country," they said.

During the last general strike on Monday 31 March, Brussels saw major disruptions, in which no flights departed from the capital's airports in Zaventem and Charleroi and the entire country ground to a halt.

This time, the emphasis will be on regional actions, specifically in Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi, Tournai, Eupen and Verviers, La Louvière, Liège and Namur.

In the Belgian capital, a march will start at 10:00 at Brussels-North railway station and make its way to Mont des Arts. There, the demonstration will conclude with testimonies from workers from various sectors.

Disrupted flights

Arriving and departing flights at Brussels Airport in Zaventem are expected to be disrupted all day on Tuesday, but the organisation cannot yet say to what extent. However, it appears that more flights will be able to take off and land than in previous strikes.

"We expect to have a clearer view in the coming days of the impact on our airport operations and the consequences for departing and arriving flights," according to the Brussels Airport website. "We recommend that you keep an eye out on our website and check the status of your flight here or via our app."

The website of the European air traffic controller Eurocontrol states that airlines operating at Brussels Airport have been asked to cancel "30% to 50% of their passenger flights," for the time being. But these percentages may still change. As soon as the precise impact of the day of action is known, the airport will inform passengers.

Meanwhile, Charleroi Airport is not expecting major disruptions as a result of the strike, airport spokesperson Nathalie Pierard told The Brussels Times on Thursday.

"Not many staff members are participating in the action. As it stands, all flights can continue. It seems that we will have enough staff for baggage handling and security screenings. That does not mean that there will be no impact," she said. As there may be delays, the airport is advising travellers to arrive three hours in advance.

Public transport

Across the country, public transport will be disrupted significantly.

In Brussels, the public transport operator STIB/MIVB is expecting "serious disruption" of its metro, tram and bus network. "The exact extent of the disruptions cannot be predicted at this time."

Passengers should find alternative travel solutions in Brussels on that day. "We will do everything in our power to ensure at least part of the service, and will inform passengers in real time about the situation on the network."

In terms of trains, national railway operator SNCB/NMBS is also expecting disruptions on its network. While railway traffic was initially expected to be disrupted the entire week because of a week-long train strike, the strike notice has now been refused. As a result, railway traffic will only be disrupted from 22:00 on Monday until 22:00 on Tuesday.

"Our staff have until Friday evening to indicate whether they will strike. Based on that, an alternative service will be worked out," a spokesperson told The Brussels Times. "As this is a general strike, there is a chance that more people will participate, which means that the impact on travellers will probably be greater."

Meanwhile, Flemish public transport operator De Lijn and Walloon public transport operator TEC are also warning their customers of disruptions. "There will be fewer buses and trams. We are working on an alternative service, but details about this will have to wait until Sunday evening."

Related News