Rail delays hit Brussels commuters in snap strike

23 August 2005

BRUSSELS — Staff of the signal tower at the Brussels South train station went on a spontaneous strike between 8am and 9am on Tuesday, leading to severe rail disruptions around the Belgian capital.

The signal tower staff went on strike in protest against a new workplace roster and the lack of dialogue with management.

Some 20 people work in the signal tower and despite the fact several NMBS-SNCB staff took over their job, rail disruptions were reported on the north-south line and in Brussels itself.

The north-south rail line is Belgium’s busiest and the strike took place in the busy morning peak-hour, newspaper ‘De Standaard’ reported.

An NMBS-SNCB spokesman said some trains were not departing and others were being diverted. The effects of the strike eased up in the afternoon.

The strike was a spontaneous action, but the Socialist union has come in support of the initiative.

“The staff are dissatisfied over the new rolling stock roster in the signal house that will be introduced from September,” ACOD union spokesman Ludo Sempels said.

“More generally, there is a problem of dialogue with management.”

Subject: Belgian news