Belgian rail unions announce week-long strike over reforms and funding cuts
Belgian rail unions have announced plans for a week-long strike from Monday 26 to Friday 30 January, with a formal strike notice to be filed in the week of 5 January. The action targets government-backed reforms affecting staff at SNCB and infrastructure manager Infrabel, and would coincide with parliamentary votes on the measures.
According to Pierre Lejeune of ACOD Spoor, the main grievance is the planned abolition of permanent civil-servant status for new rail staff from June 2026, which unions say would strip workers of key protections. They also oppose proposed changes to social dialogue rules that would allow decisions to be taken by HR Rail if a two-thirds majority is not reached in the joint committee, effectively sidelining unions.
Further concerns include a planned 675 million euros cut in railway funding during the current legislature and pension reforms that could raise the retirement age to 67 from 2027 and alter how pensions are calculated. Lejeune said the chances of averting the strike are slim after two failed rounds of talks with the minister. During the strike, the NMBS says it will operate a minimum service, with details to be announced shortly before the action begins.
© BELGA PHOTO JONAS D'HOLLANDER
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