Another month of strikes: What's planned in Belgium in April?
Key Strikes in April
Multiple sectors in Belgium are planning strikes throughout April due to the government's austerity measures, aiming for €23 billion in cuts. These measures are causing widespread concern among workers regarding pensions, job security, and working conditions.
Railway Workers
Railway workers have four 24-hour strike days planned each Tuesday (8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th), affecting train services. The first strike will reduce InterCity train services, with subsequent strikes impacting different regions.
Teachers
Teachers' strikes begin in Wallonia and spread to Brussels on April 8th. Demonstrations will take place outside government headquarters, and further actions are planned.
National Strike
A national strike is scheduled for April 29th, impacting public transport and services. Previous national demonstrations caused significant disruptions nationwide.
Food Sector
The food and services sector, including workers in food industry, hospitality, domestic help, tourist attractions, and cinemas, are also planning strikes.
Anti-austerity protest in December 2023. Credit: Belga / Hatim Kaghat
Opposition to austerity imposed by the Federal Government is not letting up and nationwide strikes will continue throughout the month of April.
Prime Minister Bart De Wever's 'Arizona' coalition wants to cut social spending and other aspects of the federal budget by at least €23 billion to reign in Belgium's deficit.
Following a national strike held last Monday, trade unions said they had a "good conversation" with Finance and Pensions Minister Jan Jambon (N-VA). Representatives acknowledged this "first step" but added that "other actions will undoubtedly follow."
Here is a rundown of all of the movements that might affect you during the month of April.
Railway workers
Railway trade unions intend to hold four strike days per month until July. Five different unions will take part in a 24-hour action every Tuesday this month from 8 April (8, 15, 22 and 29 April).
"The measures in the coalition agreement remain a source of great concern for all railway workers," said the unions. "They threaten our pension rights, reduce job security, worsen working conditions and compromise staff welfare."
Credit: Belga
During the first action, only three in five InterCity (IC) trains will be running.
Each strike will affect different areas, with the first one impacting the southeast and northwest of Belgium. Brussels will be in the firing line on the following Tuesday 15 April.
Teachers
Teachers' strikes kicked off in Wallonia on Monday and will spread to the Brussels-Capital Region on Tuesday 8 April, where protestors will demonstrate outside government headquarters.
Several thousand copies of a 'gazette' including teacher testimonies will be distributed across Wallonia and Brussels from Wednesday. More actions will follow on Friday.
Empty classroom due to a strike of the teachers, in Athenee Royal of Hannut, Tuesday 28 January 2025. Credit: Belga/Eric Lalmand
National strike
The next national strike will take place on Tuesday 29 April, affecting public transport and public services.
Brussels saw major disruptions during the last nationwide demonstration, in which no flights departed from the capital's airports in Zaventem and Charleroi and the entire country ground to a halt.
Food sector
Trade unions representing the food and services sectors have also announced plans to strike from this month, involving workers in the food industry, hospitality, domestic help, tourist attractions and cinemas.
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