Belgium's two largest rail unions confirmed that planned strikes on 17 and 31 March will go ahead following an inconclusive meeting with Pensions Minister Jan Jambon (N-VA).
All rail workers in Belgium have been called on to strike from 22:00 on Sunday 16 March until 22:00 on Monday 17 March. The unions confirmed they will also join the general public services strike on 31 March. From the outset, they had said that the outcome of talks with Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) and Pensions Minister Jan Jambon (N-VA) could result in strike actions being cancelled.
However, on Wednesday, President of CGSP Cheminots/ACOD Spoor Pierre Lejeune lamented the lack of constructive dialogue with Jambon, describing the meeting as confrontational.
He stated that the minister is committed to enforcing the governmental agreement without negotiations on sensitive issues such as raising the pension age from 55 to 67 for some people. (Currently, driving personnel at SNCB can retire at 55, if they have had a career of at least 30 years there.) Discussions about transitional measures and career adjustments were redirected to the Mobility Minister's office and railway companies.
Consequently, unions are maintaining their strike notices for 17 and 31 March and their action plan until July. Lejeune mentioned that it would take a "miracle" to cancel these actions. The unions oppose Federal Government measures affecting pension rights, and SNCB's push to save €675 million over the next five years. They fear this will result in job losses.
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Lejeune noted that Crucke's approach has been more open and conciliatory. A negotiation schedule has been established between the two main rail unions, the Mobility Minister's office, and the three railway companies (SNCB, HR Rail and Infrabel) for the coming months.
He clarified that retirement at 55 for certain railway workers is becoming rare. "Only about 20 railway workers retired at that age last year, and this trend is expected to increase as new recruits begin their service later."
