Public services and transport in Brussels are expected to be seriously disrupted on Friday as a result of a strike by public service workers. Unions are claiming “thousands” of public service workers will take part in Friday’s strike, called in protest at new rules on sick leave.
The main source of problems will be the closure in the morning of the tunnels on the Inner Ring. Buses and trams will also be affected. Metro and trains should not be affected.
Strikers will gather at the North station at 1030, and an hour later set off to march to the Mont des Arts, passing by the offices of federal home affairs minister Jan Jambon and minister for administrative affairs – in charge of federal employees – Steven Vandeput.
Police of the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles zone have advised drivers to leave their vehicles at home and avoid the city centre in general. Not only tunnels in the city centre will be affected, but also those from the E40 at Reyers and the Cinquantenaire tunnels.
Unions are protesting a proposal by the government to scrap a scheme which allows federal employees to accumulate sick days – from an allowance of 21 days a year. The new rule would apply not only to civil servants but also to police, fire services, justice services and the military.
Alan Hope
The Brussels Times
