After four rounds of negotiations, there is still no agreement on wages in the private bus and car sector. If employers do not comply, the socialist union ABVV-BTB is threatening a strike on November 10
BELGIUM, Oct 23 (Telegraph News) – Unions argue that the zero percent wage norm leaves little flexibility for bargaining. In actual terms, the bus drivers are seeking a 250-euro boost in purchasing power, as approved by De Lijn last Friday. Unlike the public bus company, BTB does not charge a general surcharge. This would imply a monthly buying power increase of 10 euros for employees of companies that have achieved adequate earnings.
If that deal fails to occur, the bus drivers are willing to take a day off. This includes coach buses in other countries and possibly school buses, but public transit suffers the most from such a strike. “De Lijn works with subcontractors, and we represent them,” explains Erik Maes, a spokeswoman for BTB. “That amounts to 40 to 50 percent of the tenants, although we of course hope that it does not have to come to that.”
