Belgian strike
January 30, 2012
The first general strike to hit Belgium since 1993 started late Sunday night and will continue through Monday evening, shutting down much of the country as European leaders gather in the capital, Brussels, for a meeting.
Public transportation, including the entire rail network, has been affected by the strike, and many schools are closed. Intercity Express (ICE) trains and trains on the Thalys network that originate in Germany have also experienced interruptions in service.
Deutsche Bahn, Germany's rail operator, has been using busses to carry passengers on to Brussels once they reach the Belgian border. Some flights at the Brussels airport have been cancelled, and the smaller Charleroi airport south of the city has been closed entirely.
A military base near Brussels has been designated as the new landing site for visiting heads of state. Upon arrival, they will drive the roughly 40 kilometers (25 miles) to the meeting in the city itself. The meeting is scheduled to begin on Monday afternoon, but participants of the EU summit are being warned to expect delays on the way to the meeting due to protests that may block roads.
All three of Belgium's major unions called the strike to protest government plans to raise the age of retirement and other belt-tightening measures aimed at cutting costs in the government. The measures are partly in response to demands from the EU that Belgium reduce its deficit.
Author: Matt Zuvela (dapd, dpa, AFP)
Editor: Martin Kuebler