- Title: BELGIUM-STRIKE/AIRPORT Belgian strike disrupts air travel at Brussels Airport
- Date: 8th December 2014
- Summary: ZAVENTEM, BELGIUM (DECEMBER 8, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ZAVENTEM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT UNION MEMBERS GATHERED IN DEPARTURE HALL AIRPORT STAFF MEMBER SPEAKING TO STRIKING UNION MEMBERS STRIKING UNION MEMBERS TALKING PASSENGERS QUEUING AT CHECK-IN COUNTERS VARIOUS OF AIRPORT WORKERS ON STRIKE UNION MEMBERS STANDING BY RYANAIR CHECK-IN COUNTER VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS WAITING BY CHECK-IN COUNTER UNION MEMBERS SEATED BEHIND CHECK-IN COUNTER UNION MEMBER'S FEET BY CONVEYOR BELT (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) SECRETARY OF THE CONFEDERATION OF CHRISTIAN TRADE UNIONS, PAUL BUEKENHOUT, SAYING: "The passengers are not being punished, because we are asking them to show a bit of solidarity. And we ask the government to reverse those measures that affect everybody. So, we are plainly asking for a social policy plan to solve this." PASSENGERS WALKING PAST CHRISTMAS TREE IN DEPARTURE HALL DEPARTURES BOARD SHOWING CANCELLED FLIGHTS PASSENGERS WAITING BENEATH DEPARTURES BOARD DEPARTURES BOARD SHOWING CANCELLED FLIGHTS PASSENGERS LOOKING AT DEPARTURE BOARD (SOUNDBITE) (English) ZAVENTEM AIRPORT SPOKESPERSON, FLORENCE MULS, SAYING: "So, we have today 46% of all our flights cancelled. It means 281 flights are not operating from Brussels Airport. We also advised our passengers to take information from the airlines to know what the situation is and, if they travel, to avoid taking big luggage and to take hand luggage with respect of the liquid and gel regulations." DEPARTURES BOARD SHOWING CANCELLATIONS VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS WAITING AND LOOKING AT DEPARTURES BOARD TWO YOUNG BOYS PLAYING, PUSHING EACH OTHER ON LUGGAGE
- Embargoed: 23rd December 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Belgium
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA5YQCEJ88OWU2T9NL6EI8VOFK6
- Story Text: Services at at Brussels international airport were severely disrupted as a result of an industrial action by airport workers on Monday (December 8) that saw 281 flights cancelled.
Trade unions, angry over proposed pension and social security reforms put forward by Belgium's new center-right government, are staging a series of regional airport strikes until December 15, when they are planning a day of united nationwide action.
A secretary of the aviation division of the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions, Paul Buekenhout, said the strike on Monday was not targeted at the passengers, but rather at the government's plans to cut spending.
"The passengers are not being punished, because we are asking them to show a bit of solidarity. And we ask the government to reverse those measure that affect everybody. So we are plainly asking for a social policy plan to solve this," he said.
The airport's spokesperson, Florence Muls, said the strike led to the cancellation of almost half of the flights from and to the airport, which is located in the town of Zaventem, 7 miles from Brussels.
"So we have today 46% of all our flights cancelled. It means 281 flights are not operating from Brussels Airport. We also advised our passengers to take information from the airlines to know what the situation is and, if they travel, to avoid taking big luggage and to take hand luggage with respect of liquid and gel regulations," Muls said.
The Belgian government says that the cuts to pensions and social security benefits are necessary to make the country more competitive and balance its books. But unions say the measures target working-class families and favour the more well-off. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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