Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Bpost strikes continue over reorganization plans, causing mail delays in Wallonia and Brussels. Minister Matz urges post’s management and unions to compromise. CEO Chris Peters will personally intervene in negotiations today February 19, 2025.
Recent talks between Bpost management and union leaders have not solved the ongoing labour dispute. Veerle Van Mierlo, a spokeswoman for Bpost, said that no formal agreement has been made. However, she noted that there has been some progress in the negotiations.
In contrast, Thierry Tasset, the Secretary General of the CGSP Poste union, expressed his frustration. He stated that the talks are not moving forward. Negotiations are scheduled to continue today February 19, 2025, to break the deadlock.
“We are going round in circles. We are still at the same point,”
Says Thierry Tasset, secretary general of CGSP Poste.
What is causing the Bpost strike in Belgium?
The strike has caused delays in mail delivery services in Wallonia and Brussels. About 85% of delivery rounds were completed yesterday, February 18, 2025, and a similar number is expected today, February 19, 2025.
In Flanders, mail delivery is normal and not affected. The strike started over a week ago and has led to a backlog of around 800,000 parcels. This is due to blockades at the main sorting centres in Liège (Awans), Charleroi (Fleurus), and Brussels (Neder-Over-Heembeek). The issue is about Bpost’s plans to reorganize, which unions say would increase workloads and make working conditions worse for postal workers.
Bpost workers in southern Belgium have been protesting for over a week. They are against new work plans that management wants to put in place. Bpost wants to change how postal routes are assigned. Unions say this will make work harder and conditions worse.
Negotiations between union leaders and management have failed to occur. Workers are concerned that the changes will put more pressure on them, whilst management believes they are required for greater efficiency.
An emergency meeting happened on February 17, 2025, at the office of Federal Minister Vanessa Matz. Union representatives and Bpost leaders were there. They called the talks “constructive,” but no deal was made.
According to Minister Matz, it is important to find a fair solution that keeps jobs safe and helps Bpost run well. She asked both sides to keep talking to avoid more problems. The sorting centre blockade continues, and the strike has an impact on mail and parcel deliveries. More negotiations are scheduled soon, but the problem remains unresolved.
