Belgium prepares for major disruptions amid three-day national strike
Teachers, healthcare workers, and sanitation staff are joining the rolling strike, which will culminate in a full general strike on Wednesday. Eurostar and the country’s two main airports, Bruxelles-Zaventem and Charleroi, have warned of significant service disruptions, with all departure flights expected to be cancelled at both airports.
The strike follows previous work stoppages since De Wever, a Flemish nationalist, took office in February leading a centre-right coalition aiming to cut Belgium’s budget deficit. Early Monday, the government reached a budget agreement that De Wever described as necessary to “guarantee the sustainability” of Belgium’s welfare state. The country’s deficit stood at 4.5% of GDP last year, with debt at 104.7% of GDP, well above EU limits of 3% for deficits and 60% for debt.
Public transport services were already affected on Monday, with reduced train schedules and cancellations of several Eurostar services linking Brussels to Paris. On Tuesday, public services including schools, hospitals, and creches are expected to join the strike, before a full general strike on Wednesday impacts all sectors, including airport operations. Eurostar has warned of delays to international services due to the ongoing industrial action.
General workers union FGTB defended the strike, citing the government’s lack of response to a demonstration in Brussels two weeks ago. Union demands include fair pensions, a wealth tax, a digital services tax on technology companies, and transparent monitoring of corporate subsidies. FGTB also said that a day of action against violence toward women held on Sunday forms part of the broader protest.
Both Bruxelles-Zaventem and Charleroi airports have warned of “major disruptions,” with Charleroi stating that neither departures nor arrivals will operate on Wednesday and that public transport may also be affected throughout the strike period. The City of Brussels and transport company De Lijn have cautioned residents that bus, tram, and other public transport services will be reduced over the three days.
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