Belgian Climate and Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke took to the airwaves on 26 January to denounce the ongoing rail strike as ‘unreasonable’, insisting the government will push ahead with planned reforms to staffing rules and market liberalisation. Speaking on VRT’s ‘De Ochtend’, Crucke said two draft agreements had already been negotiated with unions but were rejected in member ballots.
At the heart of the conflict is the abolition of automatic lifetime appointments for new employees – a perk unions view as fundamental to job security. Crucke argues the change is vital if SNCB is to survive when EU law opens the Belgian passenger market to competition in 2032. ‘There is a time for negotiations, and that time has passed. We must prepare now so railway workers do not lose their jobs later because the system is inflexible,’ he warned. (brusselstimes.com)
Business travel stakeholders welcomed the clarity but urged rapid contingency funding to protect Belgium’s reputation as an accessible hub. The American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium noted that repeated strikes have already prompted multinationals to schedule meetings in Amsterdam or Paris instead of Brussels.
![Transport Minister brands rail strike ‘unreasonable’, signals reform will proceed]()
Practically, the minister’s stance suggests the dispute could drag on: unions gain leverage only by maintaining periodic stoppages. Mobility managers should therefore plan for rolling disruption well beyond this week and budget for alternative transport or remote-work arrangements.
In this context, VisaHQ’s Belgium specialists (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) can step in to streamline last-minute visa applications, manage short-notice extensions and keep track of evolving entry rules, ensuring travelling employees remain compliant even when rail disruptions force itinerary changes.
The episode also offers a preview of wider European tensions as rail markets open; HR and mobility teams with pan-EU operations should track local collective agreements and develop strike-response playbooks that include accommodation, visa-over-stay mitigation and flexible ticketing strategies.
At the heart of the conflict is the abolition of automatic lifetime appointments for new employees – a perk unions view as fundamental to job security. Crucke argues the change is vital if SNCB is to survive when EU law opens the Belgian passenger market to competition in 2032. ‘There is a time for negotiations, and that time has passed. We must prepare now so railway workers do not lose their jobs later because the system is inflexible,’ he warned. (brusselstimes.com)
Business travel stakeholders welcomed the clarity but urged rapid contingency funding to protect Belgium’s reputation as an accessible hub. The American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium noted that repeated strikes have already prompted multinationals to schedule meetings in Amsterdam or Paris instead of Brussels.
Practically, the minister’s stance suggests the dispute could drag on: unions gain leverage only by maintaining periodic stoppages. Mobility managers should therefore plan for rolling disruption well beyond this week and budget for alternative transport or remote-work arrangements.
In this context, VisaHQ’s Belgium specialists (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) can step in to streamline last-minute visa applications, manage short-notice extensions and keep track of evolving entry rules, ensuring travelling employees remain compliant even when rail disruptions force itinerary changes.
The episode also offers a preview of wider European tensions as rail markets open; HR and mobility teams with pan-EU operations should track local collective agreements and develop strike-response playbooks that include accommodation, visa-over-stay mitigation and flexible ticketing strategies.
