Nationwide Rail Strike Cripples Belgium’s Public Transport Services
Railway labor organizations initiated the walkout opposing multiple government restructuring initiatives, including plans to eliminate permanent employment contracts for incoming personnel, a news agency reported.
The labor action will persist through Friday night.
Monday morning witnessed the disruption's impact as vehicular backups across Flemish highways extended to 240 kilometers, data from the Flemish Traffic Centre showed. Multiple collisions generated delays exceeding one hour.
Though traffic density remained elevated regionwide, authorities indicated volumes stayed within normal parameters while cautioning conditions may deteriorate through the week as railway operations face additional reductions.
Transportation chaos is anticipated to escalate in Wallonia, where labor unions representing public transit operator TEC have declared strike measures spanning January 26 through 30.
Addressing the situation Monday, Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke characterized the strike as "unreasonable," stating negotiations with labor representatives had been exhausted.
"There is a time for everything, but the time for negotiation has now passed," Crucke told media.
The minister noted his administration had already finalized two provisional agreements with union leadership regarding railway statute reforms, though union membership voted down both proposals.
"I negotiated with the unions for dozens of hours. I did not force anyone to sign an agreement," he said.
"It is the right of the rank and file not to agree, but it is also the right of the government to say: We are taking our responsibility and moving forward."
Crucke defended the reforms as essential preparation for national rail operator SNCB/NMBS ahead of mandatory rail sector liberalization in 2032.
"I do not want railway employees to lose their jobs because there is no flexibility, or because they did not see the competition coming," he said.
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