Belgium Faces Widespread Disruption as Unions Launch Three-Day Strike
BRUSSELS – Belgium is bracing for meaningful disruption next week as unions ABVV, ACV, and ACLVB initiate a three-day strike beginning Monday, November 24th, in protest against federal government policies they describe as leading to “social breakdown.” The coordinated action will escalate throughout the week, impacting multiple sectors including transport, logistics, aviation, education, and public services.
The strike action begins wiht a three-day rail strike affecting both domestic and international rail connections. Concurrently, public transport operators De Lijn, STIB/MIVB, and TEC will also be striking, with limited alternative services planned.
tuesday will see a strike across all government services. The following day, Wednesday, November 26th, a national strike will extend to all sectors. Brussels Airport will be particularly hard hit,with all passenger flights cancelled - marking the seventh complete disruption at the airport this year due to industrial action. Charleroi Airport also anticipates major disruption due to anticipated staff shortages.
The impact on the transport sector is expected to be considerable, with road transport, distribution, and international logistics chains all facing difficulties. The simultaneous rail, public transport, and aviation strikes are predicted to make this one of the most disruptive weeks of the year.
Beyond transport, the strikes will also affect other essential services. schools may offer emergency childcare, as several education unions are participating in at least one strike day, with some planning action on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Waste collection services will be impacted; Net Brussels is requesting residents limit waste to white (residual) and orange (organic) bags, postponing collection of other fractions.
Prisons will also be affected by strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday, potentially requiring police deployment to maintain minimum staffing levels.
Postal services provider bpost is attempting to minimize disruption, with unions not actively encouraging participation due to the strikes coinciding with peak shopping periods surrounding Black Friday and Sinterklaas.
Regional variations are expected in retail. Supermarkets in Flanders are largely expected to remain open, though potentially with reduced staffing. However, shops in Brussels and Wallonia are more likely to close.
