January SNCB strike: 'Rail unions are on the losing side'

Trade unions used to be a pillar of Belgian society. In the social market economy, known as the Rhine model, employers and employees were partners that co-operated to their mutual benefit (with the state in regulatory role). In this model, there was no real antagonism between unions and management.

That model is under pressure. Many people now view unions as powerful but outdated institutions that only defend rights they’ve already acquired. N-VA and Open VLD in particular have never been great champions of the unions. Both parties promote “the right to work” whenever union strikes disrupt public life. As for public services like transport, they believe in “guaranteed service”, which the unions see as an affront to the right to strike.

CD&V and SP.A, the parties that the unions were closely linked to in the past, are reluctant to continue the association.

When it comes to national railway service SNCB, the unions are definitely on the losing side. The federal government has promised to increase productivity, prompting SNCB management to propose changes to a generous system of labour and bonuses.

As an agreement with the unions could not be found, the management has threatened to push through the changes unilaterally – altering the nature of the “partnership” between management and unions.

The unions reacted furiously, announcing five days of strikes in January. This, however, has blown up in their faces, with public opinion – angry commuters weary of being stranded – staunchly against them. With the sheer length of the strike – one 48-hour strike and one of 72 hours – the unions seem to have overplayed their hand. They have lost not just the public’s sympathy, but that of the political parties that already looked upon them with suspicion.

The situation is reminiscent of what happened to education unions at the beginning of the century when they announced a strike to retain a system of early retirement at 57. The public, unaware that such a system even existed, was outraged. In the end, many teachers refused to strike for lack of popular support.

The rail unions are now trying their best to limit the loss of public support, agreeing to negotiate further. Some train drivers have even offered to transport students to their exams by car. But whatever the outcome, they will have to be resigned to the fact that they will never again be the magnificent force they once were.

Photo: Brussels Luxembourg station, Peregrine 981/Wikimedia Commons