Staff at Flemish transport company De Lijn will go on strike in the Westhoek region on 14 August following an unsuccessful meeting over working conditions, trade unions confirmed on Thursday. Alternative services will be announced on Monday.
Staff representatives and the company's management met on Wednesday to discuss issues raised by the unions, which included understaffing and unpaid overtime. Both parties were unable to reach an agreement.
The unions stated that management has been playing down the problems raised and they hope that De Lijn will take action, particularly against the assaults suffered by staff. "When journeys are cancelled due to staff shortages or problems with equipment, users' frustration increases and it is often the drivers and inspectors who pay the price," said the General Secretary of the transport trade union ACOD TBM, Stan Reusen.
De Lijn regretted that a "compromise could not be found on all the points raised," especially during a period of heavy holiday traffic. Similarly, the unions expressed disappointment over the outcome: "We were hoping for an opening, but it was not significant enough to continue negotiations and cancel the strike," Reusen said.
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The decision to go on strike came from the workers themselves, according to the unions. "The staff are really fed up. Too much time and energy is being invested in little things: checking that drivers are wearing their fluorescent jackets correctly, using a radar gun to check that they are respecting the authorised speed limits. This time and energy would be better invested in trying to make up for staff shortages and in paying overtime."
The Flemish public transport company is planning an alternative service for Wednesday 14 August. The schedule will be available from Monday on De Lijn's website and travel planner.
