BRUSSELS – A national postal strike hit Belgium on Wednesday and will continue in many places until the end of the week.

The industrial action is one of a series of strikes to sweep across the country in recent weeks, and was carried out by postal workers in Wallonia, Brussels and Flanders.

Although the exact number of striking workers is not yet known, the CGSP and CSC-Transcom trade unions say they are satisfied by the participation levels.

“Practically no postal worker went to work in distribution centres in Leuven, Vilvoorde, Ghent, Aalst and Antwerp,” said a representative of the Liberal union.

“In the large towns, workers picketed in front of post offices but in general people stayed at home,” he said.

In Charleroi, Liege, Namur and Libramont, both sorting centres and distribution services ground to halt.

Unions have confirmed that the action will continue to the end of the week, with major disruption to mail services.

As Thursday is a public holiday, many employees have refused to go back to work on Friday.

[Copyright Expatica 2004]

Subject: Belgian news