The recent wave of Belgian industrial action has largely centred on government policy, budget savings and conditions in particular sectors. In August, CSC secretary-general Marie-Hélène Ska and FGTB leader Selena Carbonero Fernandez warned of a tense social autumn and said a general strike could be considered during the budget process, according to La Libre. In September, unions again objected to proposed savings, including plans associated with MR chairman Georges-Louis Bouchez, while threatening further action, HLN reported.
The disputes are not confined to one workplace. Prison unions cited overcrowding, staff shortages and security problems; education unions protested cuts and demanded extra funding; and Brussels firefighters suspended a five-day strike only after an agreement with the regional government. The firefighters’ strike notice nevertheless remained in force, 7sur7 reported on 27 July.
The announcements in this period came from trade unions, joint union fronts or sector-specific unions. A joint union front representing prison staff filed a notice covering all Belgian prisons, detention houses and correctional facilities from 6 September at 10 p.m. HLN reported that the action could last more than one day. A later announcement confirmed a 24-hour prison strike from 6 a.m. on 25 September to 6 a.m. on 26 September, according to La Libre.
Notice periods varied in the cases reported. A Charleroi air-traffic-control union filed notice for action beginning on 12 August, while a later Skeyes action was announced as 24 nights beginning on 17 September at 10 p.m., with operations affected until 8 a.m. each day. At Charleroi, a conciliation meeting was scheduled after the July notice, and the airport operator hoped it would lead to suspension of the action, La Libre reported.
The strike-related announcements covered here do not establish a specific SNCB strike timetable or a reduced national rail service. The only railway-related proposal reported in this period was a budget plan that included closing stations; that was presented as a political savings proposal, not as an operational announcement by SNCB, HLN reported on 9 September.
That distinction matters on a strike day: a proposal affecting stations is not evidence that trains are cancelled. For an individual journey, the relevant information is the confirmed SNCB service notice for the date and route. The reported evidence in this period instead shows major disruption on TEC services in Wallonia, not a published SNCB operating plan.
The airport action reported during this period concerned Charleroi and air-traffic controllers working within Skeyes, Belgium’s air-traffic organisation. La Libre reported that 14 Ryanair flights were due to be cancelled on 17 September because of the strike, whose announced schedule covered 24 nights. The directly affected operating window was from 10 p.m. until 8 a.m. each day.
The consequences could change as the action continued. On 18 September, VRT NWS English reported that 46 flights could be cancelled at Charleroi on the following Saturday, depending on whether controllers continued their walkout. Passengers were warned to expect cancellations or changes. The airport strike arrangements reported here concern Charleroi; a Brussels Airport strike timetable is not specified.
Education was affected both by strike disruption and by broader union mobilisation. After strikes, students and teachers returned to Saint-Michel School, where the school recorded significantly fewer failures and teachers said the action had not affected results or the course of the school year, La Libre reported on 31 August. In September, several thousand people demonstrated in Liège against cuts to French-language education, while 7sur7 reported that several hundred teachers joined the mobilisation.
Other public services faced their own disputes. Prison staff announced nationwide action over overcrowding, staffing and security, while Brussels firefighters suspended their strike after an agreement that included a pledge by Brussels Prime Minister Boris Dilliès to recruit 100 additional firefighters. Rubbish-collection arrangements are not included in the strike announcements covered here, so local collection schedules should be checked separately.
A national or sector-wide strike does not produce one uniform level of disruption. The TEC action reported on 27 August affected Wallonia unevenly: around one in three services between Liège and Verviers was cancelled, no service was running in Charleroi, and more than 40% of routes were cancelled in Namur, according to La Libre. The impact therefore depended on the local network and the participation of staff.
The same pattern appeared elsewhere. A firefighters’ strike in Brussels was suspended after five days, while prison unions announced action covering every prison and warned it could continue beyond one day. At airports, cancellations depended on air-traffic controllers’ continued participation and the hours of the walkout. Demonstrations, such as the education protest in Liège or the planned Brussels action on 9 October, can create pressure and local disruption without being the same as a nationwide stoppage.
Start with the organisation operating the service. For Charleroi flights, the airport, airline and Skeyes announcements were the relevant sources: the reported cancellations involved Ryanair flights and air-traffic-control action, and the airport warned that journeys could change. A flight that appears in a schedule can therefore still be cancelled if the walkout continues.
For public transport, check the operator’s service information for the precise city, route and date rather than assuming that every service is affected equally. The TEC figures from Liège, Verviers, Namur and Charleroi show why. For prisons, schools and other public services, look for the union’s strike notice and any management or government announcement about continuity measures. The prison action announced for 25 September and the earlier warning of action from 6 September show that dates and duration can change as announcements develop.
A general strike was being discussed for the autumn, but the announcements covered here do not provide one confirmed nationwide date for all sectors. Unions announced a Brussels demonstration for 9 October, and the ABVV threatened a general strike for 23 November. Separate actions were already announced for prisons, air-traffic control and Walloon public transport.
The period covered here contains no confirmed SNCB strike timetable or published reduced-service plan. A political savings proposal mentioned closing stations, but that was not an SNCB operating announcement. Travellers should therefore distinguish between a political proposal and confirmed cancellations, and check the service information for their exact date and route.
They can be. La Libre reported 14 Ryanair cancellations at Charleroi on 17 September during a Skeyes air-traffic-control strike. VRT NWS English later reported that 46 flights could be cancelled on the following Saturday if controllers continued their walkout. Passengers should check their airline and Charleroi Airport before travelling.
No. The TEC action on 27 August produced different effects across Wallonia: no service in Charleroi, more than 40% of routes cancelled in Namur, and about one in three services cancelled between Liège and Verviers. Airport disruption also depended on the operating hours of the air-traffic-control action and whether controllers continued their walkout.
During the period covered, prison unions announced action across Belgium’s prisons and detention houses, while air-traffic controllers announced action affecting Charleroi operations. TEC services were severely disrupted in parts of Wallonia, and Brussels firefighters held a five-day strike before suspending it after an agreement. Education unions also organised protests against cuts.
The announcements in this period show different lead times rather than one uniform timetable. A Charleroi air-traffic-control notice was filed for action beginning on 12 August, while prison action was announced from 6 September and later a 24-hour stoppage was set for 25 September. A Charleroi conciliation meeting also raised the possibility of suspension.
Compiled by the shortnews.be desk from our own reporting between 2026-07-26 and 2026-09-18, drawing on coverage by VRT NWS English, La Libre, HLN, 7sur7, VRT NWS. Last checked 18 September 2026.