Rail unions press ahead with strike as talks with Pensions minister fail
Belgium’s rail unions will go ahead with a 24-hour strike from Sunday evening after failing to make progress in talks with Pensions minister Jan Jambon. The unions met with Jambon on Wednesday to discuss planned pension reforms, but they said there was little room for negotiation.
“There is some space for discussion on transitional measures, but the overall plan is fixed”, said Koen De Mey, president of union ACV-Transcom, after the meeting.
Jambon’s cabinet confirmed that the government remains committed to gradually raising the retirement age for rail workers in line with other public sector employees. “We can look into certain elements, such as transitional measures, but the principle that railway workers can retire at 55 is no longer an option”, it said in a reaction.
”The principle that railway workers can retire at 55 is no longer an option”
Broader talks
The meeting was described as constructive, but Jambon urged the unions to use strikes more sparingly - a request that received no firm commitment. Both rail unions are pressing ahead with their planned 24-hour strike from Sunday at 22:00.
Future talks will expand beyond pensions to include discussions on working conditions and railway safety, with a third union, VSOA, also joining negotiations.
Disruptions ahead
Sunday’s strike will begin at 22:00 and follows previous industrial action in February, which severely disrupted domestic and international train services.
Unions ACV-Transcom and ACOD Spoor have scheduled another 18 strike days up to July. While they have not ruled out suspending further action, they say it depends on whether negotiations yield meaningful progress.
“We are always open to suspending strikes, but if there is little room for movement, we must consult our members”, De Mey said. “We will have to see whether they find this sufficient.”
Passengers during February’s nine-day rail strike © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK