Strike action on Thursday to disrupt public transport

Public transport across Belgium is likely to be heavily disrupted this Thursday (5 October) as a result of a union action.

Wallonia’s TEC, Brussels’ Stib and Flemish transit company De Lijn are all anticipating delays, but no disruption is expected for Belgian railway operator SNCB.

Unions are not protesting against their employers, but rather are directing the action against the judicial ban on demonstrations bill being proposed by Belgium’s justice minister Vincent Van Quickenborne (Open VLD).

A demonstration in Brussels will be held against the bill on Thursday, in addition to a national strike day in which staff from STIB, De Lijn and TEC will participate, alongside workers from other sectors.

The public transport operators will keep passengers informed of delays and disruptions in real time through their usual channels.

There have already been several protests against Van Quickenborne’s bill, which would allow judges to temporarily ban certain people deemed "troublemakers" from attending demonstrations.

The idea is to target people who use public protests as a cover for committing crimes, but critics fear it could become a lever to curb peaceful protests as well.