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Public sector strike on Tuesday will lead to more rail disruption

09:01 30/05/2016

Traffic on the railways will be disrupted at least until Wednesday, regardless of the results of the latest negotiations with unions, because of the public sector strike previously announced for 31 May, socialist union ACOD said.

The unexpected strike by French-speaking rail unions that began last week has hit Wallonia hardest. Some disruption was expected in the north on Monday, while the south was expected to be largely at a standstill as it was last week.

The larger, public sector strike on Tuesday is in response to the Michel government’s austerity policies and is likely to have even more of an effect on rail traffic, as drivers and other staff take time off to go to Brussels and Ghent for demonstrations.

The strike is also likely to affect day-care centres, schools and other public services. In Antwerp, people have been asked to keep their recycling indoors for an extra week rather than put their bags on the street, as the city cleaning department may not have the manpower to pick them up.

French-speaking and Flemish rail unions are expected to meet today, where ACOD leader Chris Reniers is expected to call her French-speaking colleagues to order over their unscheduled strike. “Calling a general strike just like that, the way they did is counter-productive and doesn’t help our case at all,” she told the VRT programme De zevende dag at the weekend.

The unions are protesting against the SNCB’s change to the system of credit days, which compensates rail workers for a longer working week.

She also left the door open to a proposal from federal labour minister Kris Peeters to fine those rail workers who took part in the unscheduled strike. The matter was one for the SNCB to decide, she told the programme.

Photo: Zumapress/BELGA

Written by Alan Hope