Unions warn of more strike action in new year

Trade unions have no intention of scaling back their efforts to protest against new measures from the federal government which they say dangerously weaken Belgium’s social safety net.

FGTB union president Thierry Bodson announced the next wave of protests to take place in the first three months of the new year, including rotating strikes and another large-scale national demonstration.

“At the level of the joint trade union front, decisions of principle have already been taken for the first quarter of 2026,” Bodson told RTL.

“It’s already been decided, and we will then refine the dates.”

The first wave will begin in the first half of February, with rolling strikes organised over three days.

“On day one, two Walloon provinces and two Flemish provinces will be on strike,” Bodson explained.

“On day two, it will be the turn of other provinces, and finally, on day three, Brussels and the two Brabants.”

A major national demonstration is also planned for the week of 9 March, most likely on Friday 13 March, according to Bodson.

In January, railway workers will lead the way with a week of action.

“They’ll hold a week of action during the week of 26 January,” Bodson said.

“And we, the FGTB, will carry out a support action at that time, even if the common front has not yet been formed for this stage.”

When asked about the risk of the movement becoming exhausted by repeated mobilisations, the union president said that the rotational schedule is meant to prevent this.

“We’re going to support the railway workers, so that's part of our members and activists, then we will work at the provincial level, so that it's not everyone, all the time, at the same time,” Bodson said.

“And then we will end up with a national demonstration. We are spreading the effort.”