Massive anti-austerity strike underway in Belgium

A nation-wide strike affecting Belgian public transportation, schools, government offices, businesses and manufacturing facilities is unfolding Monday after disruptions to flights and train service began on Sunday.

Monday's large general strike culminates a series of smaller weekly protests that have also targeted transportation, leading to canceled flights and train service. The anti-austerity actions began in early November with around 100,000 taking part in a Brussels march that led to clashes between demonstrators and police.

The unions driving the strike say they are voicing opposition to budget-tightening proposals by the country's new center-right coalition government with Prime Minister Charles Michel at its head. The contested moves include the government's scrapping of a customary cost-of-living raise for 2015 as well as plans to raise the country's retirement age from 65 to 67 by 2030 and institute additional public sector cutbacks.

"The government keeps saying there is room for negotiation on the very serious measures that have been decided, but the trade unions remain without concrete answers," Philippe Van Muylder of one participating union, the FGTB, told Belga news agency last week ahead of the new protests. "There is no dialogue."

Knock-on effects for travelers

The managing director of Brussels Charleroi Airport, Jean-Jacques Cloquet, described the disruptions to air service as a "real disaster" and warned of knock-on problems in the busy holiday travel days ahead. A Brussels Airport spokesperson said a total of 600 flights would be unable to land or take off due to the strike by air traffic controllers.

Local travelers and commuters will also face difficulties Monday as bus, tram and metro services are halted. The strike extends beyond the capital to both French and Flemish-speaking regions of the country.

The austerity measures targeted by protesters are intended to save 11 billion euros ($13.69 billion) during the new government's five-year term. They are spearheaded by the 38-year-old Michel, who formed a four-party coalition government in October after months of difficult negotiations.

gsw/es (AFP, dpa)