Unions will protest on 1 October to denounce abuses in the security, cleaning and catering sectors. This will cause “serious disruption” to Brussels Airlines’ flight schedule. The airline was forced to cancel the “majority” of flights on that day, it said on Friday.
The European trade union confederations UNI Europa and Effat, together with Belgian trade unions, will hold a protest in the European district on 1 October to demand respect, decent working conditions and fair pay for catering staff, cleaners and security guards. Strike notices for that day have been submitted.
As a result of the security guards’ strike, security screening capacity at Brussels Airport will be greatly reduced. “The airport has asked the airlines to reduce their schedules. Brussels Airlines has therefore taken the difficult decision to cancel most of its flights on 1 October,” the airline said in a press release.
Brussels Airlines will inform affected passengers directly and says it will do everything it can to get passengers to their destinations as quickly as possible. This could be one day earlier or later. Transfer passengers will be able to change at another hub of Lufthansa Group, the German airline group to which Brussels Airlines belongs.
Long wait times
Travellers whose contact details are held by Brussels Airlines will receive an alternative via e-mail. Assistance is also available via the chat assistant on the website or through a travel agent. Extra employees have been assigned to customer service, but longer waiting times cannot be excluded.
Queues at Brussels Airport will therefore be even longer than usual on 1 October. It is already struggling to fill vacancies at border control, leading to queues that can last for hours. In July, it asked the federal government to fill vacant border control posts, saying the airport would be 183 full-time posts short by 2023.
Brussels airport is not the only airport expected to be disrupted on 1 October. Charleroi and Liège airports are also likely to be affected by the strike.
© BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
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