Public transport in Wallonia entered its sixth consecutive day of turmoil on Saturday, 31 January 2026, as drivers at the regional operator TEC pressed on with an ‘unlimited’ strike. The dispute, led by a joint union front, began on Monday after the Walloon Government unveiled a package of cost-cutting measures for the Transport Operator of Wallonia (OTW). Unions say the plan would roll back negotiated concessions – such as additional leave and bonus schemes – that were granted in lieu of pay rises during previous bargaining rounds.
By mid-morning on Saturday more than two-thirds of services in the Liège–Verviers district were cancelled: 80 of 122 routes were not running, three were partially disrupted and only 35 operated normally. Other depots in Charleroi, Hainaut and Walloon Brabant reported similar or worse disruption, although up-to-date figures were scarce because picket lines blocked company gates, hampering management’s ability to communicate. Passengers were urged to consult the TEC app before travelling or make alternative arrangements altogether.
Union leaders accuse the regional executive of “saving on the backs of workers” at a time when inflation and fuel costs are already eroding take-home pay. They also warn that any attempt to impose unilateral changes will trigger broader solidarity action – including possible stoppages at Brussels-area depots that connect Wallonia to the capital’s multimodal commute.
![Sixth day of Wallonia bus-drivers’ strike cripples TEC network across French-speaking Belgium]()
Amid the disruption, companies juggling travel logistics for foreign staff may also need help keeping visas and work permits current. VisaHQ’s Belgium platform (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers an online one-stop shop for renewals, extensions and hard-to-find consular services, freeing mobility teams to focus on rerouting travelers while paperwork is handled securely in the background.
The strike is scheduled to last at least until Thursday, when mediation talks are set to resume. If no compromise is reached, industrial action could spill into the following week, hitting cross-border commuter flows and supply chains that rely on TEC’s bus network for last-mile connections to rail freight hubs. Employers with staff based in Wallonia are already activating tele-work protocols and advising travelling employees to allow extra time – or reroute via Flemish operator De Lijn – to meet customer commitments.
For mobility managers the episode is a reminder to maintain contingency travel policies that cover regional strikes, not just national rail stoppages. Companies with expatriates on Belgian assignments should circulate TEC’s strike updates in English and French, and verify taxi or car-service availability in smaller towns where alternatives are thin on the ground.
By mid-morning on Saturday more than two-thirds of services in the Liège–Verviers district were cancelled: 80 of 122 routes were not running, three were partially disrupted and only 35 operated normally. Other depots in Charleroi, Hainaut and Walloon Brabant reported similar or worse disruption, although up-to-date figures were scarce because picket lines blocked company gates, hampering management’s ability to communicate. Passengers were urged to consult the TEC app before travelling or make alternative arrangements altogether.
Union leaders accuse the regional executive of “saving on the backs of workers” at a time when inflation and fuel costs are already eroding take-home pay. They also warn that any attempt to impose unilateral changes will trigger broader solidarity action – including possible stoppages at Brussels-area depots that connect Wallonia to the capital’s multimodal commute.
Amid the disruption, companies juggling travel logistics for foreign staff may also need help keeping visas and work permits current. VisaHQ’s Belgium platform (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers an online one-stop shop for renewals, extensions and hard-to-find consular services, freeing mobility teams to focus on rerouting travelers while paperwork is handled securely in the background.
The strike is scheduled to last at least until Thursday, when mediation talks are set to resume. If no compromise is reached, industrial action could spill into the following week, hitting cross-border commuter flows and supply chains that rely on TEC’s bus network for last-mile connections to rail freight hubs. Employers with staff based in Wallonia are already activating tele-work protocols and advising travelling employees to allow extra time – or reroute via Flemish operator De Lijn – to meet customer commitments.
For mobility managers the episode is a reminder to maintain contingency travel policies that cover regional strikes, not just national rail stoppages. Companies with expatriates on Belgian assignments should circulate TEC’s strike updates in English and French, and verify taxi or car-service availability in smaller towns where alternatives are thin on the ground.
