Belgium - Strikes over budget and funding cuts - December 31, 2025

On 15 December, a strike took place across Wallonia and Brussels, affecting schools, childcare services, public administrations and other publicly funded services. The action was organised by the trade union common front, bringing together FGTB, CSC and CGSLB, in response to planned budget cuts and savings measures for the 2026–2029 period. Unions argue that the measures would worsen working conditions and undermine the quality of public services. Many schools and childcare facilities were closed or operated with reduced staffing, while public administrations also reported disruption.

Read on: in French... Read on: in English…

For more information, please contact Paul de Beer or Oana Ciuca, De Burcht (Scientific Bureau for the Dutch Trade Union Movement) p.t.debeer@uva.nl or the Head of communications at the ETUI, Mehmet Koksal mkoksal@etui.org. For previous full issues of the Collective bargaining newsletter please visit https://www.etui.org/Newsletters/Collective-bargaining-newsletter or consult the archive with all articles in our database at www.cbnarchive.eu. You may find further information on the ETUI at www.etui.org.