Belgium Strikes

Unions representing workers in adapted-work enterprises (ETA) in Wallonia filed an indefinite strike notice effective 13 March 2026 and have called company-level actions starting Friday, 3 April 2026. Expect work stoppages and other on-site actions at sheltered workshops across Wallonia (and German-speaking areas), though no direct impact on public transport, schools or hospitals is foreseen.

Union confederations FGTB (ABVV) and CSC (ACV) announced that Friday, March 27, 2026, the day of a demonstration in Roux, will be treated as a strike day with strike pay for participating workers across affected employers in the social-profit sector.

Unions announced an indefinite strike and actions across Wallonia’s Adapted Work Enterprises (ETA) effective from March 13, citing lack of recognition and demands including meal vouchers and improved end-of-career measures. The action continues until further notice.

Unions representing workers in Wallonia’s sheltered workshops (Entreprises de Travail Adapté, sector 327.03) filed an indefinite strike notice effective March 13, 2026. Actions and stoppages continue until further notice; the action remains in force on and after March 24, 2026.

Trade unions at De Lijn have filed a strike notice for nine days of industrial action in March and April over additional budget cuts. The first week of action runs Monday 16 to Friday 20 March 2026 in West Flanders, Antwerp, Flemish Brabant, Limburg and East Flanders, likely disrupting bus and tram services across Flanders.

A National Day of Action has been officially confirmed by Belgium’s three main union confederations (CSC/ACV, FGTB/ABVV, and CGSLB/ACLVB) for Thursday, March 12, 2026. A formal 24-hour strike notice covers all sectors nationwide, allowing workers to participate in a massive demonstration in Brussels. Public ImpactStatusBrussels Airport (BRU)🔴 CriticalNo DeparturesCharleroi Airport (CRL)🔴 CriticalTotal ClosurePublic Transport🟠 HighSevere DisruptionsSchools & Offices🟠 HighLimited Service 🛫 Brussels Airport (BRU)Brussels Airport has formally confirmed that no passenger flights will depart on Thursday, March 12, due to the national strike. While the airport remains technically open, all outbound passenger traffic is cancelled to ensure safety and security. Status: All departing passenger flights are cancelled for the duration of March 12.Arrivals: Some arriving flights may still operate, but significant disruptions and delays are expected.Advice: Passengers scheduled to fly from Brussels (BRU) on March 12 must not come to the airport and should contact their airline for rebooking or refund options. 🛫 Charleroi Airport (CRL)Brussels South Charleroi Airport has announced a total closure of the airport for Thursday, March 12. No flights (neither departures nor arrivals) will be handled during this 24-hour period.Status: The airport will be completely closed to all flight operations.Impact: 100% of scheduled flights to and from Charleroi are cancelled.Advice: Do not travel to the airport. Check the official website or your airline's mobile app for the latest status updates and instructions. 🚊SNCB/NMBSBy contrast, SNCB/NMBS indicates its train services will not be affected by the March 12 demonstration. Expected DisruptionsPublic Transport: Severe disruptions are expected on STIB/MIVB (Brussels), De Lijn (Flanders), and TEC (Wallonia) networks.Education: Major education unions (COV/COC) have confirmed participation. Expect widespread closures or reduced services in schools and higher education.Public Services: Government offices, postal services, and municipal administration will operate at minimum capacity or remain closed. RecommendationsTravelers: If you are flying from Brussels Airport, contact your airline immediately. Most departing flights will not operate.Commuters: Avoid traveling to Brussels by car or public transport if possible, as the demonstration will cause significant road closures in the city center.

The socialist rail union ACOD Spoor has announced a 72-hour nationwide strike. This will paralyze or significantly limit train travel across the entire Belgian network, affecting all NMBS/SNCB, Infrabel, and HR Rail operations. ⏱️ Strike Timeline Starts: Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 10:00 PM. Ends: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, through the last scheduled train. 🚆 Will trains be running in Belgium on March 8–11, 2026?Yes, but on a highly reduced schedule. Under "guaranteed service" laws, an alternative transport plan will be implemented based on the number of staff who indicate they will work. Alternative Service: A specific timetable is typically published 24 hours before departure. Frequency: Expect many local and IC lines to be cancelled entirely or run only once per hour. Real-Time Info: Check the SNCB/NMBS App or the official website journey planner starting the evening before you travel. 🌍 International Travel (Eurostar, ICE, TGV) Status: Disruptions are likely for international trains entering or leaving Belgium. Check: Visit SNCB International for specific updates on high-speed rail cancellations. 💡 Advice for Expats & Travelers Avoid Peak Hours: If you must travel, avoid the morning and evening rush hours as remaining trains will be extremely overcrowded. Alternative Transport: Consider using De Lijn (Flanders), TEC (Wallonia), or STIB/MIVB (Brussels) buses and metros, which are not part of this specific rail strike (though they may be busier than usual). Refunds: If your train is cancelled, you are generally entitled to a refund or rebooking. Keep your ticket as proof. 🔍 Why is this strike happening?The union is protesting against proposed federal government reforms and the "Arizona" coalition's plans, specifically fighting the abolition of "statutory" (permanent) status for new rail recruits and budget cuts to public services.

Official municipal notices in Liège Province announce a national union action on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 causing work stoppages that will close multiple city counters and shut several Intradel recycling parks; the Intradel call center will be unreachable and only a limited number of parks will open.

Postal workers at Bpost’s Philippeville office are on strike over a pilot reorganisation of delivery rounds, demanding additional staffing and compensation. Mail and parcel deliveries are suspended across Philippeville, Florennes, Walcourt, Doische and Cerfontaine, with no end date announced and the stoppage ongoing for nearly two weeks as of February 19–20, 2026.

Belgium’s joint union front has filed a strike notice covering public-sector workers for Friday, February 13, 2026. Participation may involve work stoppages in public administrations and related services; absences for participants are treated as strike days.

🚨 Interprofessional Strike: Belgium (Multi-Sector) The "Front Commun Syndical" (FGTB/ABVV, CSC/ACV, and CGSLB/ACLVB) has intensified its opposition to the federal government’s "Arizona" coalition reforms. This is an interprofessional action, meaning it extends beyond transport to include schools, administrations, and the private sector. Status: Confirmed. Action days are set for 5, 10, and 12 February 2026. 🏢Provincial LevelThursday, Feb 5: West Flanders, East Flanders, Liège, and Luxembourg. Tuesday, Feb 10: Antwerp, Limburg, Hainaut, and Namur. Thursday, Feb 12: Brussels, Flemish Brabant, and Walloon Brabant. 📢 What to Expect: Public Transport:De Lijn has confirmed severe disruptions to bus and tram services across the province. An alternative service plan is typically available 24–48 hours in advance. Education:Strike notices have been filed on 5 February for staff in all educational institutions (including Catholic and GO! schools) throughout East Flanders.ACOD strike notice for all education institutions in Antwerp: 10 February. Public Gatherings:Major union actions are centered in Ghent, with a gathering at the Vrijdagmarkt followed by a march to the Kouter at 10:30 AM. Other Sectors: Local government offices and waste collection services may also be affected. 🛫 Charleroi Airport An interprofessional strike in the Province of Hainaut on Thursday, February 5, may affect access to Charleroi Airport. Access: Expect potential delays and road disruptions to and from the terminals. Advice: Allow extra travel time and confirm your flight status with your airline before heading to the airport. Check the official website for the most accurate and up-to-date information for Charleroi Airport. 🛫 Brussels Airport The airport is open and has not issued an official closure announcement as of February 4. However, disruptions are possible due to the nationwide interprofessional strike notice. Note: The most significant impact for Brussels Airport is expected on Thursday, February 12, when the strike officially moves to the Brussels and Flemish Brabant regions. 🚆 Will trains be running in Belgium 5, 10, 12 February 2026?Yes, trains are expected to run as scheduled because the Council of State officially rejected the unions' emergency appeal to authorize strikes for those specific dates. While trains should run, "interprofessional" actions in other sectors may still cause indirect delays or local disruptions. Check the official SNCB website for real-time updates. 🔍 Why is this strike happening?The "Front Commun" is protesting a suite of federal socio-economic measures dubbed a "frontal assault on the world of work." Key grievances include: Pension Reforms: Opposition to raising the statutory retirement age to 67 and changes to pension calculations.Purchasing Power: Protesting the "index leap" (adjustments to how wages follow inflation) and wage freezes.Public Service Cuts: Protesting a €10 billion austerity package that unions claim will degrade health, education, and transport.Rail Reform: A specific fight against the abolition of "statutory" (permanent civil servant) status for new rail recruits.

Workers at TEC Liège–Verviers voted on 6 February to maintain their strike at least through Monday, 9 February, keeping bus and Liège tram services heavily disrupted. Management and local media report continued severe network impact and advise passengers to check real‑time updates.

Workers at public transport operator TEC are prolonging strike action, keeping bus and Liège tram services heavily disrupted in the Liège–Verviers, Hainaut and Brabant Wallon zones through Thursday 5 February. Local votes by staff confirmed the extension; authorities and universities advise passengers to seek alternatives.

A sectoral strike day for the non‑profit (non‑marchand) sector is slated for Wednesday 3 February 2026. ACV announces mobilization of the federal and Flemish non‑profit on that date; employer advisories flag it as a sectoral strike day.

The social resistance against federal reforms continues into 2026. Following the FGTB ‘coup de poing’ action in Brussels, Belgian rail unions have confirmed a national railway strike from Monday, 26 January to Friday, 30 January 2026. Railway workers from SNCB/NMBS and Infrabel are protesting against the abolition of permanent statutory status for new recruits, pension cuts, and a €675 million reduction in rail funding. A minimum service plan will be implemented, but significant delays are expected across the entire Belgian network and on cross-border Eurostar/ICE services. https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/train-network-travel-info/strike Status: Confirmed. This strike will last 5 days, from Monday, 26 January to Friday, 30 January 2026. Public Impact  Operator: SNCB (French) / NMBS (Dutch)Infrastructure: InfrabelService Level: A minimum service plan is expected. Approximately 1 in 3 trains will remain operational.International Trains: Eurostar and ICE services via Brussels South (Midi) will face significant delays or cancellations. Why is this strike happening?  The Belgian railway unions (ACOD Spoor / CGSP Cheminots, ACV Transcom, and others) are protesting federal government reforms, including:  Changes to the statutory employment status for new SNCB staff.Proposed pension adjustments and retirement age increases.Budgetary cuts impacting rail safety and operational efficiency.

Unions at TEC announced front-commun strike actions across the entire Walloon public transport network from Monday 26 to Friday 30 January, with an indefinite strike notice taking effect the same Monday and possible further actions afterward. Strong disruptions are expected network-wide.

The Flemish administration notified HR that union action on Monday 26 and Friday 30 January 2026 is recognized as an organized work stoppage for staff, with shift coverage windows specified.

Front commun syndical has filed a strike notice for a day of action across Brussels’ social-health (non-marchand) sectors on 23 January 2026; employers are advised that absences will be covered as strike days.

The ACOD (CGSP) union filed a 48-hour strike notice at Haren Prison, citing severe understaffing and untenable working conditions. The action runs from 06:00 on 2025-12-30 until 06:00 on 2026-01-01.

Thousands of farmers are demonstrating in Brussels on Thursday, 2025-12-18, bringing tractors into the city and targeting EU plans on the EU–Mercosur trade deal, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms and potential budget cuts. Authorities warned of major traffic disruption (including street/tunnel closures) and a planned route from around Brussels-North area toward the European Quarter/Place du Luxembourg during the day.

Belgium’s united trade union front has called a strike and demonstration on Monday, 2025-12-15 in Brussels targeting budget measures affecting sectors under the Wallonia–Brussels Federation (education, culture, youth, social). Disruptions are expected across these public services.

A nationwide, cross-sector general strike is planned as the culmination of a three-day action. Workers across public services will carry out a nationwide work stoppage opposing government reforms. Belgium’s three main union confederations called coordinated strikes: rail on 24 Nov, public services on 25 Nov, and an interprofessional general strike on 26 Nov over budget cuts and reforms. Brussels South Charleroi Airport: No scheduled departures or arrivals on Wednesday, 26 November. Brussels Airport: All departing flights cancelled on Wednesday, 26 November.

A nationwide general strike day is called by the union front, with a formal strike notice covering shifts overlapping the night of 13–14 Oct. Large demonstration planned in Brussels.

Front commun FGTB–CSC announced a day of action with a large demonstration in Namur that may involve work stoppages covered by strike indemnities in participating workplaces.

Two independent rail unions (SACT and SIC) called a rail strike from 07.09.2025 22:00 to 13.09.2025 22:00, with minimum service. Effective dates on/after 10.09.2025 are enumerated.