Police claim success for strike action

Yesterday’s police strike was a great success, according to the liberal public service union VSOA Politie. “On average, 55% of police employees are on strike,” said chair Vincent Gilles. “In fact 65 to 75% of police are behind our action, though they cannot show it because they are required to work by the minimum service requirement.” 

The strike is the first time all sections have been called on to strike together, though by law the force is required to maintain a minimum level of staffing at all times. Police are protesting at the raising of the minimum retirement age to 62. 

In Brussels, the turnout for the strike was almost total in Etterbeek, Sint-Pieters-Woluwe and Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, with coverage provided by neighbouring municipalities. In Ghent, the strike was mainly observed by local neighbourhood officers, with sufficient manning for other sections. 

In Bruges, the lower ranks were all out on strike, with coverage provided by senior officers. A delegation of 200 striking officers called at the pensions service to submit symbolic retirement requests. In Antwerp, the strike led to the cancellation of mobile speed checks by traffic police

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Brussels Airport said long queues at passport control were not the result of the police strike. At one point, 1,000 people were waiting in line at passport control. Airport staff said the queues had been caused by the arrival of several flights at the same time between 8.00 and 10.00, with flights that had arrived earlier than scheduled. There were also delays at baggage reclaim for the same reason.