Strike spreads across maritime chain, disrupting traffic to Belgian ports
What began on Monday evening as a strike at the shipping control tower in Zeebrugge has escalated rapidly over the past 24 hours. After maritime pilots joined the action, work also stopped at the traffic control centre in Zandvliet on Tuesday evening, according to several sources in the sector.
Around sixty ships were already waiting on Tuesday morning as a result of the disruption. Vessels are currently held up in the North Sea and near the ports of Zeebrugge, Ghent and Antwerp. The number is likely to have increased since then and could continue to rise in the coming days.
The shipping control tower in Zeebrugge had already ceased operations, and the tower in Zandvliet, Antwerp, has now joined the strike. "The port of Port of Antwerp-Bruges will be completely closed from 7.30 p.m.," a spokesperson for the port authority said on Tuesday. Staff will intervene only in the event of collisions or other major safety incidents at sea or on the Scheldt.
"The supply of goods to businesses and industry is being compromised"
The effects of the strikes are also being felt in North Sea Port, which includes facilities in Ghent and Vlissingen. "The supply of goods to businesses and industry is being compromised," a spokesperson warned. Several ships are already unable to enter or leave Ghent.
No breakthrough in sight
Negotiations over pensions in the maritime sector have been ongoing for more than a year. Sailors earn significantly less than maritime pilots, but unions want a single comprehensive agreement covering everyone in the nautical chain. That includes maritime traffic controllers in the control towers and the crews of Vloot, the service responsible for the technical and operational management of government vessels.
Union representatives say politicians are unwilling to negotiate. "The work-to-rule actions will continue," they said on Tuesday, signalling that pressure will increase. The joint trade union front is planning a major protest in Brussels on Thursday against the federal pension reform, and no immediate breakthrough appears to be in sight.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
Related news
