Rail strike cost economy €80m, says business group

This week’s train strike cost the Belgian economy €40 million a day, according to the federal employers’ organisation FEB. Four in 10 train commuters turned to their cars during the 48-hour strike, the organisation estimated, leading to 50% more congestion.

The loss of time in travelling to work cost the economy €16 million a day, FEB said. Delays caused to freight traffic cost some €2 million, while absence of workers unable to work from home or find alternative transport cost €14 million. The rest is accounted for by delays arriving at work or working from home.

The latest train strike came to an end yesterday evening. In Wallonia, no trains were in operation during the industrial action by French-speaking unions on Wednesday and Thursday. In Flanders, as many as three out of four trains were in service.

Brussels is the nation’s rail hub, with many trains passing through between the two regions and from Limburg, for example, to the coast. Those national connections were affected by the strike, in particular the connection between Brussels and Leuven, where only one in three trains was running. Brussels-Antwerp saw about 40% its normal service.

Unions were reacting to the national rail authority’s new productivity proposals, which would, among other things, require rail employees to work another hour a week, without additional pay.

The intention by the unions to strike on 6 and 7 January, and again from 21 to 23 January, was announced in December. When it became clear that the latter strike would create serious problems for the nation’s students, all of whom have to sit exams during January, the unions postponed the later action. Public support for rail workers has been notably strained following seven days of strikes in 2015.

The national strike this week was further undermined by the Flemish rail unions’ decision not to take part and instead continue talks with the national rail authority SNCB.

Rail unions are due to sit down again with management and the government on Tuesday to discuss the SNCB’s productivity plans.

Photo: Aurore Belot/NurPhoto/Corbis