Heist-op-den-Berg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Postal workers went on strike at the Bpost distribution centre in Heist-op-den-Berg over heavy workloads after route changes. Around 60 to 70 staff members handle 46 rounds. Union leader Yves Tambeur urges action.
As VRT News reported, a strike has begun at the postal distribution centre in Heist-op-den-Berg, located on Schaliehoevestraat, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. The protest started after recent changes to the mail carriers’ routes. According to the unions, these changes were made to save money but have caused serious problems for staff.
Postal workers say they can no longer finish their rounds within the 7 hours and 36 minutes they are paid for.
“The rounds are calculated based on averages of the number of mail and parcels the mail carriers have to deliver,”
explains Yves Tambeur of the VSOA union.
“The postmen can no longer cope; they no longer take breaks and take safety risks.”
Ivo Tambeur, VSOA
What is causing the Bpost strike at the Heist-op-den-Berg distribution centre?
Union representatives warn that the heavy workload is creating unsafe conditions. Some postal workers, they say, no longer look around properly when stepping out of their vehicles because they are rushing to keep up with the schedule. The unions claim that deliveries in the area have already been affected by the strike.
Around 60 to 70 postal workers are responsible for completing 46 delivery rounds in Heist-op-den-Berg. Work has stopped at the local distribution centre as the strike continues. The impact is already being felt across the region, with residents expected to receive little or no mail today, Nov 2, 2025.
The unions are asking for 4 work shifts to be added to reduce the workload on staff. Management has not yet accepted the proposal, and it remains unclear how long the strike will last. Talks between both sides are ongoing.
This is not the first strike at the Heist-op-den-Berg distribution centre. In 2021, postal workers at the same centre also stopped work after route changes made it difficult to finish deliveries on time. Similar actions took place in 2018, when Bpost employees across the country protested against new schedules and increased pressure.
