Christmas Eve transport strike planned

8 December 2004

Brussels’ bus, tram and metro services are likely to be disrupted on Christmas Eve., it was reported on Wednesday.

The CGSP socialist union, which represents a minority of workers at Brussels public transport operator STIB, has said it is still unhappy with the concessions made by the public transport company’s management.

After a long meeting on Tuesday night, union members voted to strike on 24 December.

“Our demands are still the same,” said CGSP member Alex Vonck.

The workers are dissatisfied with their working conditions and in particular want more staff recruited, especially bus drivers.

Although the Christian and Liberal unions signed a deal with STIB last month, the CGSP says STIB must do more and says workers lack confidence in their bosses.

Since October, Brussels residents have had to cope with three general transport strikes and five other strikes which affected some buses, trams and metros.

Last week, STIB and CGSP union reps negotiated a number of concessions, but union members considered them insufficient.

STIB’s managing director Alain Flausch has now said the company will not make any further deals.

“It’s unacceptable that a few dozen delegates are putting a company of more than 6,000 people in danger,” he said.

Subject: Belgian news