Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Belgian train drivers, including Peter, are striking over NMBS budget cuts, pension changes, and poor conditions. Bram Maes (OVS) says staff stress and service decline affect workers and passengers.
Peter, who wants to keep his name private, became a train driver because he could retire early. He feels many people do not understand why train drivers are striking. He wanted a job that helped society. Train drivers earn less than those in private companies and have irregular hours that affect their social lives. He accepted these issues to get the chance to retire sooner.
According to Peter, he must work 8 more years and will get a smaller pension because the rules changed. People say train drivers can retire at 55, but that only applies to those who worked for 30 years.
He mentioned that there were just 7 people in 2023. Train staff also do not get a full pension unless they have worked on the train for 36 years, and previous jobs do not count. Train staff also give up some salary to retire early.
Why are Belgian train drivers striking over NMBS cuts?
Peter mentioned that the work is not as hard physically as some factory jobs, but it is very stressful mentally. He said train drivers must always pay attention because they are responsible for keeping passengers safe. When unexpected things happen, they need to make quick decisions without mistakes. Peter believes it is hard for someone over 65 to do this job well because it requires a lot of focus. He thinks older people might get tired and have slower reactions, which could be dangerous.
“Physically, it is less heavy than someone who works on a factory assembly line, that’s true. But we have to be focused and alert all the time.”
Peter says.
Peter talks about another big issue in his job. Train drivers have strange hours and do not work on a fixed schedule. He said many drivers have long-term health problems from working at odd times. Peter has seen that many of his coworkers do not enjoy their retirement for long. He often sees death notices for recently retired drivers. He thinks the stress and tiredness of the job cause this situation.
Train drivers and conductors are frustrated with budget cuts at NMBS, Belgium’s national railway. Peter says funding has been decreasing for years. This has led to worse service for passengers. He believes these cuts affect train operations and put more pressure on the staff.
He mentioned that trains are often late, and maintenance is lacking. Commuters are having a poorer experience. This is tough for railway workers who want to provide good service but feel they cannot do it anymore.
Bram Maes from the Independent Union for Rail Personnel is worried about the problems passengers face every day. He says budget cuts often leave travellers waiting in the cold for trains that are late or cancelled. This happens because there are not enough staff and not enough money for good infrastructure.
Maes knows the strike has caused issues for many commuters, but he believes it is necessary to push the government to change the cuts. He understands passenger frustration, but he says that without action, things will only get worse for everyone.
“It is heartbreaking for us as staff to see that we can no longer provide the service that passengers deserve,”
Says Bram Maes
“We see passengers left out in the cold every day because of these austerity measures.”
The Minister of Mobility is upset about the strike and says it is wrong to strike without talking first. Peter points out that major unions do not support the strike because they do not understand the needs of train workers. This is why they formed their unions. He mentioned that these smaller unions are not included in important talks. The big unions only reach out when they need help, which is disappointing for the smaller unions.
