BRUSSELS – The train conductors based in Brussel-Zuid went on strike Monday morning starting at 3.30 am. At first the strike was planned to end at noon, but there is a good chance that the later shifts will join in the action, extending the strike throughout the afternoon, says Ludo Sempels of personnel union ACOD-Spoor.

Not only the conductors based at Brussel-Zuid, but those in many other areas also stopped work Monday morning, says Guido Ardeel of railway infrastructure manager Infrabel.

The personnel have gone on strike en masse in Wallonia. Train service has come nearly to a standstill there.

The problems in Flanders are also considerable, not only because connections with Wallonia are not operating, but because strikes are taking place in several places in Flanders as well, in Ostend, Bruges and Hasselt, for instance.

The conductors are on strike to protest several incidents of aggression against their colleagues this weekend. Four conductors were assaulted over the weekend, three had to be brought to hospital.

[Copyright Expatica News 2007]

Subject: Belgian news