The Daily Dazzling Dawn

Belgians brace themselves for a nationwide strike on Monday

by DD Staff

January 12, 2025

Brussels airport in Belgium

key takeaways

Transport workers have all been advised to go on strike by their unions, which will cause severe disruptions for Belgians attempting to use public transportation on Monday to get to work.

Only roughly one out of every three trains will be operated, according to confirmation from railway operator SNCB.

"A lot of flights will have to be canceled or rescheduled," Ihsane Chioua Lekhli, a Brussels airport official, told Belga News Agency on Friday.

Many children may also have to stay at home as 20,000 teachers have said they will strike, meaning some parents or carers will also have to stay at home.

On January 1st the retirement age in Belgium rose from 65 to 66 - and it will increase to 67 by 2030.

And there are other changes proposed by the government that have angered public sector workers.

"The measures on the table represent unprecedented attacks on all working men and women," trade union CSC said. "Wage freezes, indexation reform, longer working hours and more precarious contracts, austerity, cuts to public services and ecological investments: nothing will be spared for Belgians, not even pensioners."

In Brussels the rubbish collections may also be affected, and some prison officers are also going on strike.