(Adnkronos) – A three-day strike called by the main trade unions has begun in Belgium, which will cause serious disruption to rail traffic, public services, and air traffic. Since yesterday evening, the public railway company Sncb has been offering a reduced service, and today, one in two trains is expected to run. According to the Belgian news agency, trains during peak hours will be particularly affected by the strikes, and disruptions are expected for passengers throughout Wednesday.
Tomorrow, however, public services will go on strike, with repercussions on schools, kindergartens, post offices, waste collection, healthcare, and public transport. The biggest disruptions are expected on Wednesday, with many private sectors joining the strike: according to what has been announced by the airports themselves, no flights will depart from Belgium’s two main airports, Brussels and Charleroi. Strikes by security and ground staff will also affect incoming flights.
The Belgian center-right coalition government has announced far-reaching austerity measures with the goal of saving 10 billion euros by 2030. Belgium, one of the most indebted countries in the EU, is forced to comply with European Union rules on debt and deficit. At the same time, the country must drastically increase defense spending in the coming years, according to NATO plans. Last October, about 100,000 people participated in a demonstration in Brussels against the planned austerity measures.
