BRUSSELS – Liege and Charleroi airports in Belgium could grind to a halt at midnight on Wednesday, if a planned strike goes ahead.

The three major unions at the airport are demanding that agents working for the Walloon state take over responsibility for a number of security duties which are currently subcontracted out to the private sector.

Union representatives have already met Walloon transport minister Andre Antoine and public functions minister Philippe Courard to express their concerns, but said their request was finally refused.

The strikes will come as another blow to Belgium’s smallest airports. On Monday, Charleroi’s management said three days of strikes and three days of fog this month had led to a lowering of 25,000 in passenger numbers.

The airports will also have to cope with the country’s general strike scheduled for Friday, which is over the government’s social security reforms.

[Copyright Expatica News 2005]

Subject: Belgian news