Brussels, April 18, 2025 — Belgium’s railway sector is bracing for major disruptions as a new week-long strike by the independent rail union Metisp-Protect is set to begin at 22:00 on Saturday, April 27, and run until 22:00 on Saturday, May 4.
The strike, confirmed by Metisp-Protect to Belga News Agency on Friday, is aimed at protesting ongoing pension reforms and deteriorating working conditions for railway employees.
This latest industrial action marks the second major strike led by Metisp-Protect in as many months, following a similar week-long strike that ran from March 23 to March 30.
According to Farid Chkhachkhi, a spokesperson for the union, the strike notice covers all personnel under the HR Rail umbrella, including workers from SNCB/NMBS and Infrabel.
The strike notice was filed shortly after a last-ditch emergency meeting between the union and HR Rail on Thursday ended without resolution.
“This strike aims to denounce the continuing serious threats to the rights and working conditions of railway workers,” said Chkhachkhi.
At the heart of the conflict are government reforms that raise the retirement age for railway workers, abolish long-standing bonus structures, and propose a reorganisation of HR Rail that the union fears could lead to its dissolution.
The reforms also include a proposed reduction in access to key social and financial benefits. Metisp-Protect has criticised what it describes as a systematic erosion of workers’ rights.
“Railway employees are being asked to sacrifice too much while facing increasing workloads and decreasing support,” Chkhachkhi noted. “We cannot accept these measures without a fight.”
The upcoming strike by Metisp-Protect coincides with additional industrial actions already planned by five other unions in the rail sector.
CGSP Cheminots, CSC-Transcom, SLFP, Sic, and Sact have announced separate strike actions for Monday, April 22, and Monday, April 29, further compounding the potential for widespread disruption in national rail services.
While the precise impact on rail traffic is not yet clear, past strikes of this nature have led to the cancellation of a significant number of train services and delays across the country.
SNCB/NMBS and Infrabel have yet to release contingency plans, though service disruption is expected to be extensive during the overlapping strike periods.
The Ministry of Mobility has called for dialogue, urging both union representatives and HR Rail to resume negotiations in hopes of averting the looming shutdown.
However, union leaders remain sceptical of any progress unless major concessions are made regarding retirement policies and staff conditions.
With the May Day public holiday falling within the strike period, concerns are also rising about the broader economic and commuter impact, particularly for international rail connections.
The strike underscores the deepening tensions between railway workers and their employers, and signals what could be a long and contentious standoff unless significant changes are introduced.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
