The strike, which began on Monday and will continue through Wednesday, has been organised by the country’s three main union confederations, FGTB, CSC/ACV and CGSLB/ACLVB. The unions oppose the “Arizona” government’s budget agreement, arguing that its planned reforms will weaken pensions, tighten unemployment rules and undermine already strained public services.
Participation in the strike is broad, with the strongest mobilisation seen across public transport, municipal administrations and a wide range of public services. Education and childcare staff have joined the walkouts, as have hospital workers, including a 36-hour strike at Brussels’ Saint-Pierre Hospital. Postal and waste-collection services, particularly in Wallonia, are also heavily involved. The action extends into port and waterway operations, while parts of the private logistics sector have been disrupted by blockades organised by unions and citizen groups.
Major disruptions for transport and logistics
Ports
Strike action in port services left 63 vessels waiting to enter or depart the Flemish ports of Antwerp, Ghent and Zeebrugge on Tuesday morning. Pilotage and traffic-control restrictions are forcing ship movements to be rescheduled, leading to delays expected to continue into Wednesday.
Rail
National operator SNCB/NMBS continues to operate under a reduced timetable, running about one in two intercity services and one in three local and suburban trains. Peak-hour services remain limited. International high-speed traffic is partially maintained, though several Eurostar and TGV routes are operating at reduced frequency or on diverted paths.
Logistics and retail distribution
A citizens’ blockade at Intermarché’s logistics hub in Villers-le-Bouillet has halted outbound deliveries since Monday night. Approximately 80 of the retailer’s 155 Belgian stores are no longer being supplied. Postal services are running almost normally in Brussels but face substantial disruption in Wallonia, where more than a third of postal workers are striking.
Inland waterways
In Wallonia, picket lines at several strategic locks and bridges, including Lanaye, Monsin, Anseremme, Ivoz-Ramet, Ampsin-Neuville and Strépy-Thieu, have brought major waterways to a standstill. Authorities report that as many as 100 cargo vessels normally using the affected corridors are currently unable to move.
Air transport
Significant air travel disruption is expected on Wednesday, when Brussels Airport will cancel all departures and more than half of arrivals due to widespread participation by security and ground-handling staff. Charleroi Airport has also confirmed that no flights will operate there on Wednesday.
What to expect on Wednesday
Wednesday is expected to be the most disruptive day of the mobilisation, with a full inter-professional general strike planned across both public and private sectors. Wider blockades of industrial zones, logistics hubs and transport infrastructure are anticipated, and operators are being urged to prepare for minimal or no capacity across ports, public transport and rail. Disruptions on inland waterways and airport operations are also likely to intensify.
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