On Monday 18 October, railway workers shut down virtually the entire national rail network and disrupted international services in protest at rail freight reforms which could cost hundreds of train drivers' jobs. The strike was called by the ACOD/CGSP union, affiliated with the ABVV/FGTB confederation, and supported by the independent OVS union. The protest focused on the terms of new flexible contracts that the management of rail operator SNCB/NMBS's freight unit is seeking to impose on staff. The union warned that the contracts would make it easier to lay off hundreds of train drivers. The resultant strike action coincided with the ongoing massive protests in neighbouring France, blocking rail transport across much of western Europe.
English: http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/96568
Dutch: http://knack.rnews.be/nl/actualiteit/nieuws/belgie/ovs-sluit-zich-aan-bij-treinstaking-acod/article-1194835156073.htm
For more information, please contact the editor Maarten van Klaveren, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies (AIAS) M.vanKlaveren@uva.nl. You may find further information on the ETUI atwww.etui.org, and on the AIAS at www.uva-aias.net. © ETUI aisbl, Brussels 2009.