Rail unions form united front to maximise strike impact

Five of the six Belgian railway unions have formed a joint front to better coordinate their strike actions and increase their impact. ACOD Spoor, ACV Transcom, VSOA Spoor, OVS and ASTB announced a common action plan in a joint statement on Thursday.

The smaller unions - VSOA Spoor, OVS and ASTB - are aligning their actions with those of the two largest, ACOD Spoor and ACV Transcom, who have announced 24-hour strikes every Tuesday in April, on the 8, 15, 22 and 29 of the month. Escalation is expected in May.

Rail unions announce 18 strike days in next 5 months

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Metisp-Protect, a sixth, smaller union, is not part of the coalition but is currently holding a week-long strike. All unions will take part in a national general strike on 31 March.

The actions are in response to federal government plans to raise the retirement age, increase flexibility for rail workers, cut budgets and reform HR Rail, the legal employer of railway staff.

^{© BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}

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