Strike update: Both international and domestic air and train links remain cut in Belgium as a national strike continues against the new governments austerity policies. Brussels roadways • Roadblocks at Schuman Circle have been cleared. • Roadblocks on A12 at Atomium (north) and on Rue de France (Midi station) remain in place. • Also roadblocks are set up at Woluwe shopping center, and in Anderlecht as well. • 150 strikers on bicycles on Blvd. Pacheco briefly slowed traffic in the direction of Central Station. Airports • Jetair distributed 1600 lunch packages to travelers. Their flights were moved to Lille and Maastricht. • Thomas Cook has also transferred its flights to Lille. • At Charleroi, 30 travelers were prevented from entering the airport by union pickets. Seaports • Antwerp port is still closed; R2 in Lillo is reportedly closed to traffic. • Port of Ghent still closed; picket lines in place at Meulestede bridge and ArecelorMittal steel plant • In Aalst, the Zeeberg bridge has been closed by unions; Zeebrugge port is still closed. National roadways • The A12 from Antwerp in the direction of Brussels is temporary closed. • Oosterweelsesteenweg is closed at intersection Scheldelaan. • In Wilrijk, the A12 and N177 are closed to traffic in the direction of Brussels. • In Limburg, the E314 in the direction of Lummen is closed to traffic. Reported incidents • A car was symbolically set on fire by strikers on a picket line at Antwerp port. It was reportedly a junked car. • In Dilsen (Limburg) a drunk driver reportedly drove into a picket line, no injuries were reported. • In Olen (Antwerp) a man reportedly drove through a union picket line to reach to his own business, and succeeded. Again, no injuries were reported. • At the Ghent railway station, local resident and Speaker of the Federal Parliament Siegfried Bracke tried to help people who wanted to pass the picket lines and get to work. Striking union members and people willing to work were yelling at each other, but no fighting or arrests occurred; unions condemned Brackes intervention.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 12:23:28 +0000