Number of working days lost to strikes falls 40%

Unions are resorting less to strike action than in the past. The total number of working days lost to strikes in 2013 fell 40% to 205,974, according to new figures from the National Social Security Office, ONSS/RSZ.

Although recent strikes by air traffic controllers Belgocontrol and national rail company SNCB/NMBS suggest otherwise, in 2013 strikes were down 50% on figures for 2011 and 40% on those for 2012.

In 2011 and 2012, political strikes dominated strike actions such as the political protest against the last government’s pension plans.

In spite of last year’s drop, the overall figure for working days lost to strikes in Belgium remains comparatively high. In the Netherlands, only 19,000 days were lost to strikes last year.