Police unions protest at Eurostar terminal in Brussels-South railway station

Belgian police unions organized a protest at the Eurostar terminal of the Brussels-South railway station on Friday morning. With the protest, the unions want to draw attention to the acute staff shortage in the Belgian police force.

For example, Charleroi airport is short 30 police officers, which could rise to 75 by 2025 if nothing is done. To make the profession more attractive, the unions demand an end-of-career scheme for all police officers and a "real" pay rise.

Since the announcement of a strike notice, which still runs until the end of March, neither Interior minister Annelies Verlinden nor Justice minister Vincent Van Quickenborne have made a concession, the socialist trade union ACOD said. More actions will follow in the next few days. 

The unions will protest at the Tihange nuclear power plant on Monday morning and at Charleroi airport on Thursday morning. ACOD also plans to close police stations for a whole week, starting from the national strike day on 10 March, with only urgent cases that will be handled. Finally, a protest in the centre of Brussels will follow on 21 March.

^{© BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS}