Protest marches, canceled flights, interrupted public transport, general strike in Belgium

Fourth time this year, Belgium is under blockade today over a general strike organized against the plans of the Belgian Federal Government to reduce budget costs for social purposes.

According to MIA correspondent from Brussels, many flights have been canceled due to the strike, public transport is reduced, and protest marches are being held on the streets of Belgian cities.

About half of the flights at the Brussels Zaventem Airport, as well as all landings and takeoffs from the Brussels-Charlotte Airport, where the aircraft Skopje-Brussels and the vice versa were also running. Some of the flights were diverted to Dutch airports in Rotterdam and Maastricht.

City transport in Brussels is significantly reduced, with only one metro line operating, as well as only five trams and seven bus routes.

The port of Antwerp is also paralyzed, with about 40 ships waiting, and river traffic is interrupted. Public transport in several Belgian cities does not work.

Due to the strike, ten lines of the Eurostar train were also canceled, which is about one sixth of their total.

Although it was announced that public utilities staff would not join the strike, however, part of the lid -strapped recycling bags remained in front of the apartment buildings.

The central protest march was held in Brussels from the North Train Station to the Mont de Art Square, located in the downtown area of ​​the Royal Palace and Federal Parliament buildings and several state institutions. A gathering was held at the square where representatives of various branch unions spoke about the situation in their sectors. According to police estimates, about 4,000 people participated in the march.

Protesters also passed near the headquarters of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) party (N-VA) of Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever, in front of which the union delegation set up a casket and held a one-minute silence, symbolically burying the « Antisocial Project Arizona ». Arizona is a colloquial name of the Belgian government coalition, which comes from the colors of its members – yellow, blue, red and orange, which are also on the flag of the US state of Arizona.

A union official said police allowed only a few union officials to access the N-VA headquarters, while other protesters were blocked by police forces.

The strike organizers are the two largest Belgian unions, the General Federation of Labor of Belgium (FGTB/ABVV) and the Confederation of the Christian Trade Unions (CSC/CAA), according to government measures to reduce the budget costs for social goals and for the social system and reforms.

Trade unions say the new government plans Belgians will have to work longer for lower pensions, the law on civil servants will be eroded and aid to the unemployed and chronically ill people will be reduced.

« Faced with a government that protects the interests of large companies and the richest at the expense of workers, pensioners, young people, women and the most vulnerable citizens, we call for mass resistance across the country, » the two trade unions said in a joint announcement.

Representatives of the union organizers of the strike will meet with Belgian Employment Minister David Clarinal this morning, which they described as « constructive with the potential to make progress » in terms of trade union demands.

Meanwhile, the public sector’s branch union of public sector at the CGTB/ABVV, the General Alliance of Public Sector (CRSP/ACD) has announced a new general strike at its heads for May 20, but it is uncertain whether their Syndicate