Railway unions, the Mobility Department and railway companies have agreed on a schedule for negotiations in the next few months, Pierre Lejeune, President of the CGSP Cheminots/ACOD Spoor union, announced on Monday.
Urgent issues will be addressed during these discussions, Lejeune added.
The socialist union is demanding two essential guarantees: the future of HR Rail as legal employer and the continuation of recruitment based on statutory positions. “I was told nothing is excluded and the debate is open,” said the union leader.
The governing Arizona coalition, led by the Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA), wants to abolish HR Rail, which provides human resources services for Belgian rail. Its current responsibilities would be transferred to the personnel services of network manager Infrabel and the National Railway Company of Belgium, SNCB.
Unions oppose this move, fearing the reorganisation will result in significant job losses.
A technical meeting is scheduled for 21 March, with more regular meetings expected until May, depending on the progress of the discussions.
In late February, rail unions ACOD/CGSP and ACV/CSC Transcom announced 18 strike days over the next five months to protest against pension measures and the proposed SNCB cuts by the government.
Monday’s meeting at Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke’s office was constructive but did not yield any elements that would lead to the unions suspending their planned actions, noted Lejeune.
Pensions are another contentious issue for railway staff. Minister Jan Jambon’s office, responsible for pensions, will meet with unions at 9.00 a.m. on Wednesday. “If Mr Jambon is as open as Mr Crucke, we may reconsider, but we are waiting to see,” Lejeune concluded.
