Two more days of strike action this week

Two days of union action have been announced for Tuesday 10 February and Thursday 12 February - but Belgian railway workers will not be participating after the Council of State struck down their appeal against a rejected strike notice.

One day of action already took place on Thursday 5 February, mainly concerned Hainaut province and Flanders. A "procession of anger" was held in Tournai, near the CPAS, and industrial estates and businesses were blockaded, with leaflets distributed.

Picket lines were set up in the Charleroi region and actions were held in front of Thy-Marcinelle steel plant and in front of the Belle Fleur shopping centre in Couillet.

Unions at railway operator SNCB filed a strike action to join these three days of actions but it was rejected by management, whose rejection was then backed up by the Council of State. For that reason, no impact to train traffic during these three days is expected.

The court considered that the condition of urgency, which is legally required for administrative summary proceedings, was not met. “The applicants do not specifically set out the factual elements establishing that they would be unable to exercise their right to strike,” the ruling said.

According to the ruling, “the only risk invoked by the applicants of disciplinary sanctions and administrative measures, if the workers were to participate in the three-day strike despite the refusal of notice, is neither set out nor explained in concrete terms in the application”.

For other forms of public transport, Wallonia’s TEC network has already been affected and Flanders’ De Lijn could be affected as well during the days of action to come.

On 10 February, actions will take place in Liège, Namur (in front of the town hall) and Marche en Famenne (distribution of leaflets).

An action is also planned at Liège airport and a demonstration will take place in the city centre in the morning.

The non-profit sector (schools, healthcare, associations) is being encouraged to participate in the demonstration. No mass walkouts are expected, but teachers who want to strike will be covered.

On the Flemish side, actions are planned in Antwerp, Ghent and Hasselt.

For Walloon trains and buses, the situation remains uncertain. More detailed information is expected closer to the planned dates.

For Thursday 12 February, actions are planned in Walloon Brabant, Flemish Brabant and Brussels, with a rally in front of the National Bank in Brussels.

According to unions, these actions are a prelude to a major national demonstration on 12 March, scheduled to take place the day before the budget review.