A third of Flemish public transport will not be running in the suburbs of Brussels and in the cities of Leuven and Mechelen on Friday, due to a strike by De Lijn employees.
Three trade unions representing public transport workers in Flanders - ACV, ACOD and ACLVB - had announced on Monday that they would be going on strike to call for better protection measures against aggressive acts towards De Lijn drivers.
These attacks are said to have contributed to a growing shortage of bus drivers in the region, with up to 50 of them leaving per month, according to a report by De Standaard.
In the meantime, the public transport company stated that "we regret the inconvenience this regional union strike causes for its bus passengers," with a modified timetable set to be provided to passengers in the affected regions.
