Belgium: Firefighters' indefinite strike notice from 26 June 2026

Belgium's firefighter unions — VSOA (SLFP), ACOD (CGSP) and ACV Openbare Diensten (CSC Services publics) — have filed an indefinite (open-ended) strike notice taking effect from the night of Friday 26 June 2026, covering all rescue zones (hulpverleningszones) nationwide.

The dispute is over federal plans by the Interior Minister to overhaul the firefighter statute, training and recruitment. Unions warn the reforms — including a new, lower-paid "hulpverleners" auxiliary role and the scrapping of the federal aptitude certificate (FGA) — would weaken safety, training standards and service quality.

Important: this is a strike notice, not a confirmed nationwide walkout. The unions describe it as a "last warning" to bring the minister back to negotiations, and the notice allows each rescue zone to organise its own action from that weekend onward. The scale and timing of any actual stoppages will vary by zone, authorities can requisition staff to maintain a minimum service, and firefighter strikes in Belgium are very rare. In an emergency, always call 112.