Trade unions De Lijn want to stop on March 12

In a press release, the trade unions say that it is a response to the reduction in the number of services in different regions in Flanders, “what has a direct impact on employment”. Furthermore, the trade unions criticize changes in the duty roster and that many kilometers are being transferred to private operators.

The trade unions indicate that the changes within the final phase of the basic accessibility plan have a “significant impact on the drivers”. Those drivers often work “according to a fixed duty roster that evolves from late to early”. “Due to the lack of early services, maintaining such a schedule is becoming increasingly difficult. Drivers will have to run more often split services, insure evening shifts and have to work on Saturday, “says the trade unions.

The socialist trade union ACOD, the Christian ACV and the Liberal ACLVB also state that these irregular working hours have a major influence on the social and family life of the drivers. According to them, that is a “aspect that is often overlooked by policymakers”.

“Politics Hakkak and Bad Management”

The Common Trade Union Front denounces that the “combination of politics and bad management” does not run smoothly and there are regular journeys and services. Because the exercise has to be done budget -neutral, the line was obliged to roll out “an impossible reorganization”. “This change also involves further reduction of journeys due to budgetary reason.”

The unions still underline that the profession of driver has been a bottleneck profession for years, both at De Lijn and the subcontractors. According to them, the proposed timetables will not improve. “There is already an outflow of younger drivers or drivers who last only a few years.”

There is currently a strike at the track, until Sunday evening. That syndical action is an initiative of OVS and ASTB, two smaller rail unions. They protest against plans from the federal government, such as an increase in retirement age, more flexibility for the railway employees, savings and a reform of HR Rail, the legal employer of the rail staff.

Just like Wednesday, about half of the IC trains will run on Thursday, and about 40 percent of the L and S trains. Earlier today, this was apparent from an overview of the strike nuisance of railway company NMBS.