The socialist railway workers’ union CGSP Cheminots has announced the intention to strike for two days at the end of the month. The action is planned to start at 2200 on 28 June and continue until the same time on 30 June. The union is striking in protest at a new bill on the designation of some jobs as heavy labour – a designation that allows workers in those jobs to retire earlier. According to a statement issued via the news agency Belga, the union expressed its “total opposition to the introduction of new measures which would endanger the regime applying to the full range of railway workers.”
The list of jobs involving heavy labour which is currently being considered does not include all rail workers. The result, union critics say, would mean some employees having to work longer, but without receiving an increased pension when they do retire.
Meanwhile the smaller union SIC has said its conductors will strike on 27 June for 24 hours, again starting at 2200. And another small union, SACT, also representing conductors, announced a 48-hour strike from 0300 on 22 June. Finally, the union Metisp-Protect said it planned strikes on 25, 26 and 29 June, as well as 2, 4, 6, 9 and 11 July.
Alan Hope
The Brussels Times
