De Lijn strike action against Flemish government cuts

Trade unions at Flemish public transport operator De Lijn have submitted a strike notice for two days of action in Flemish Brabant on Wednesday 18 March and Monday 7 April.

The notice is part of a broader region-wide De Lijn strike spanning two weeks, which comes after the announcement at the end of January of additional savings planned for the company.

Unions were told that, on top of the €30 million that must be saved on De Lijn’s services by 2026, a further €5.5 million in savings must be made. Unions say these cost-cutting measures will be felt most acutely in rural areas.

“The announced cuts will have a huge impact on the work-life balance of drivers, a profession that is already under severe pressure,” unions said in a joint statement.

The unions announced "a spring of action" in regards to the budget-slashing, describing the strike notice as a reaction to the Flemish government’s "breach of contract".

With the strike, they want to urge Flemish mobility minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA) “to stick to the agreements made and guarantee the future of high-quality public services”.

During the first week of action, from Monday 16 to Friday 20 March, days of action are planned in the provinces of West Flanders, Antwerp, Flemish Brabant (Wednesday), Limburg and East Flanders, said Stan Reusen, federal secretary of the socialist public sector trade union ACOD.

The trade unions will not strike during the week of 23 March, when secondary school pupils will be taking their Easter exams.

During the second week of action, from 7 to 10 April, action will be taken in Flemish Brabant (Monday), Limburg and Antwerp. On Thursday, action will be taken in both East and West Flanders.

The two days of action in Flemish Brabant will most likely also have an impact on lines to and from Brussels.