For customers planning on moving to Belgium, Abels Moving Services have been made aware of a series of strikes at Port of Antwerp that are planned in Belgium.
The main unions in Belgium have called for a series of actions and (regional/national) strikes, culminating in a general strike on December 15th, 2014, to voice their discontent over the new federal government’s plans to adopt a series of austerity measures (skip a salary indexation, lift the retirement age etc.).
Today the following actions are still scheduled:
November 24th, 2014
Strike actions in the province of Antwerp (and also Limbourg, Luxembourg)
December 1st, 2014
Strike actions in the provinces of East and West Flanders
December 15th, 2014
A national and general strike
What will be the impact for the port of Antwerp?
November 24th, 2014
During the entire day, substantial impact is expected on all kinds of operations, affecting many public and private services in the Antwerp province, incl. the port of Antwerp. It is the expectation that various picket lines will be organized, hampering some major access roads in and around the port, as well as hampering the gates and the entrance of many port facilities and companies.
The industrial actions affecting the nautical and port/terminal operations might be starting at 22h00 (i.e. start shift) on the eve of Nov. 24th already.
December 15th, 2014
The details of the December 15th strike are not yet 100% clear, but all unions are determined to take part.
For customers moving to the Belgium please call your Abels customer liaison on their direct line or call head office on +44(0)1842 816600 or email shipping@abels.co.uk