Brussels, Belgium – Belgium came to a near standstill on Monday as a nationwide general strike disrupted flights, public transport, and key services across the country.
This marks the third major multi-sector strike of the year, with thousands of workers from various sectors participating in widespread demonstrations.
Major Disruptions Across the Country
The strike led to the cancellation of all flights departing from Brussels Airport and Charleroi, causing chaos for travelers. Public transport was heavily affected, with reduced metro services and halted international train connections.
Picket lines formed nationwide, including in major cities such as Brussels and Antwerp, as protesters voiced their concerns over government reforms.
Key disruptions include:
- Air travel: No flights departing from Brussels Airport and Charleroi.
- Public transport: Reduced metro services and cancellations of international trains.
- Mail deliveries: 85% of mail delivered in Flanders, but severe delays in Wallonia.
- Industrial impact: Ports, prisons, and logistics services severely affected.
- Supermarkets: Minimal closures reported, with major retailers largely unaffected.
Economic Fallout and Employer Reactions
The strike is expected to have significant economic repercussions. Flemish employers’ organization Voka estimates the financial damage to be between €300 million and €500 million, citing losses in production and logistics.
Voka CEO Hans Maertens criticized the unions, stating, “In economically difficult times, they cause hundreds of millions in damage to the economy. They strike against the government but hit our companies.”
Maertens also warned about the impact on Belgium’s reputation, particularly its air and maritime ports, arguing that frequent strikes undermine the country’s global standing.
Prisons, Ports, and Logistics Severely Affected
The general strike led to staffing shortages in over half of Belgium’s prisons, with police officers being deployed to maintain basic services.
In Flanders alone, more than 100 officers had to step in to assist with operations. The Red Cross was mobilized to ensure food distribution in facilities where staff shortages were critical.
Meanwhile, the maritime sector experienced significant disruptions. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges reported that around 30 ships were waiting to dock or depart, with only minimal operations permitted. The North Sea Port also confirmed that at least 11 vessels were blocked from entering or leaving the port.
Cultural and Education Sectors Join the Protest
Hundreds of artists, actors, and employees from the cultural sector gathered at Place de la Monnaie in Brussels to protest proposed government reforms to artist status and unemployment benefits.
Simultaneously, similar demonstrations took place in Antwerp’s Operaplein, with concerns that the changes would affect around 8,000 artists.
In the education sector, students and faculty at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) blocked access to the Solbosch campus to protest federal government austerity measures.
Many lectures were canceled as demonstrators raised awareness about deteriorating working conditions in higher education.
Public Transport and Mail Services Struggle to Operate
Public transport services in Wallonia were hit particularly hard, with no buses departing from the TEC Charleroi depots.
In Liège-Verviers, less than half of the bus and tram services were operational. In contrast, Flanders experienced fewer disruptions, with a significant portion of services continuing to run.
Mail deliveries were also significantly disrupted, with only 65% of mail delivered in Brussels and half left undelivered in Wallonia. The impact is expected to last beyond Monday, as delays carry over into the following day.
Stranded Travelers and Airport Chaos
The strike left Brussels Airport’s departure hall virtually empty, with travelers scrambling for alternatives. Many had been aware of the strike in advance, but others, such as two sisters from Norway, were caught off guard.
“We only now discover that our flight has been canceled. We do not know what to do yet,” one of them told reporters.
Conclusion
As Belgium grapples with yet another general strike, the country faces mounting economic consequences and public frustration.
While unions argue that their actions are necessary to oppose government policies, businesses and employers warn of long-term damage to the nation’s economic stability.
With multiple sectors affected, the strike underscores the deepening divisions between labor unions and the federal government.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
