Strikes affecting Belgian airports in 2023

[luchtzak]

Strikes affecting Belgian airports in 2015
Strikes affecting Belgian airports in 2016
Strikes affecting Belgian airports in 2017
Strikes affecting Belgian airports in 2018
Strikes affecting Belgian airports in 2019
Strikes affecting Belgian airports in 2020
Strikes affecting Belgian airports in 2021
Strikes affecting Belgian airports in 2022

[Passenger]

18/02/2023: Wildcat strike by Aviapartner at Brussels Airport:
https://www.aviation24.be/airports/brus ... ing-agent/

Financial results:
BY-2020: 10.548.774 loss
BY-2021: 1.142.319 loss
cumulated loss 31/12/2021: 15.371.963
own assetts 31/12/2021: minus 6.510.665

To solve their cash flow problem, they did some intra shuffle and they managed to get a loan of 25M from the FPIM / SFPIM (Federale Participatie- en Investeringsmaatschappij / La Société Fédérale de Participations et d’Investissement).

With such worries, Aviapartner can't afford a salary increase and they can't afford more staff.

[luchtzak]

I would suggest to nationalize them, or make them an essential part of an airport. They are not able to buy new equipment/tools/vehicles, and a constant race to the bottom.

[brabel]

Ryanair might strike (again) 15 and 16 july

[sn26567]

Ryanair might strike (again) 15 and 16 july

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/ryan ... if-needed/

[luchtzak]

Go-slow strike of customs staff at Brussels Airport, this morning: https://www.aviation24.be/airports/brus ... ustration/

Reason for the actions have not been disclosed yet.

[Vic Diesel]

Self-declared "civil disobedience movement" Code Rouge is planning disruptions at airports in Belgium between 15-17 December 2023, probably peaking on 17 December. It's one of the groups showing little respect to laws, regulations, foreign property or aviation safety, recklessly pushing their agenda.

If you spot suspicious movement around the airport, please report it to the authorities to prevent disruptions of traffic.

[atcofl]

Today, 17-19h local time: strike at Brussels Tower due to illegal refusal of management to allow an employee to take his birth leave (20 days).

[luchtzak]

Today, 17-19h local time: strike at Brussels Tower due to illegal refusal of management to allow an employee to take his birth leave (20 days).

Is that for arrivals/departures ? or above 24,000 feet ? as in both sectors, there is still activity. And no delayed flights, as far as I can see.

[Lux_avi]

Today, 17-19h local time: strike at Brussels Tower due to illegal refusal of management to allow an employee to take his birth leave (20 days).

Is that for arrivals/departures ? or above 24,000 feet ? as in both sectors, there is still activity. And no delayed flights, as far as I can see.

Above 24000ft = Eurocontrol.
Not anything close to Brussels Tower, which handles the CTR of Brussels.

There is no NOTAM published (yet?) though.

[atcofl]

It seems like it will be 18-20h. Management is pushing back hard, that's why there are no notams yet. I expect the strike will still happen though.
Brussels tower seems to be sure, other skeyes units, especially at CANAC might or might not join.

[atcofl]

Industrial action anniunced on the Eurocontrol NMOC portal.

https://www.public.nm.eurocontrol.int/P ... eway/spec/

[atcofl]

A5555/23
From:23 DEC 23 17:00 Till:23 DEC 23 19:00
Text:TWR CLSD DUE TO INDUSTRIAL ACTION. ALL ALLOCATED DEP SLOTS CNL. EMERG FREQ ARE WATCHED.

[Passenger]

Gazet van Antwerpen reports that the duty roster was already planned/published when he files the request.
https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20231223_96100168

[Lux_avi]

Gazet van Antwerpen reports that the duty roster was already planned/published when he files the request.
https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20231223_96100168

An employee can take his parental leave in published/planned roster. That's Belgian law.

Whether it is a reason to close the tower or not is another question...

[theeuropean]

Indeed, I’m waiting for my flight to ATH in the lounge. It had an already delayed departure from Athens and had to divert to Liège. I will keep you all updated.

In the meantime I wish you all pleasant holidays!

Max

[Atlantis]

Gazet van Antwerpen reports that the duty roster was already planned/published when he files the request.
https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20231223_96100168

An employee can take his parental leave in published/planned roster. That's Belgian law.

Whether it is a reason to close the tower or not is another question...

For unions is always a reason. The more the better for them. For one person a lot more thousands has to suffer?

[theeuropean]

Push back of aircraft now happening so seems things are restarting

[mvg]

Brussels airport has become a regional airport.
Average number of movements on Sundays is 450! That’s 225 departures and 225 arrivals per day!

Compare it to London Heathrow: 1200 movements per day!

Privatize ATC at Brussels airport and have it done by efficient people!
These guys get paid like in other busy airports to do nothing (good on them). They should hide and keep quiet BUT they still dare to strike whenever the wind isn’t blowing in their direction. Come on!

Cleared to land, cleared for take-off and then one hour break! What a job! Have at least some respect for your customers!

[DIBO]

as an intro: I was in the past (in a different sector) on a union-candidate list for social elections, so I'm not a deep-rooted union hater...

Are unions important and necessary with managements in the 'Ryanair-style': yes
Can we approve of wild strikes, especially for those functions that heavily impact society: no, except in very rare cases

We don't know the specifics of this strike, but it certainly is a very, very strong action to take, given the impact it has on several hundreds of people.... maybe, just maybe, even a pax trying to get home asap as his wife is about to give birth...

* was this ATCO's all/any parental leave revoked, even on the day(s) of the 'expected day of delivery'
* or is it only the additional 7 days that cannot be taken within 30 days as planned (and specified by law)
* was management trying it's best to find a working compromise (I probably know that answer already), even it that meant granting only a handful days of the initially planned/approved days
All (and more) answer that are important before making a judgement.

But that being said, ATCO's with one of the best salaries in aviation industry, with working conditions that are still well above the worst cases in the EU, with extremely powerful unions, should be very, very cautious about the use/abuse balance of their right to strike....

(and let's not oversimplify things, I don't think @BRU there are many occasions they have to fight boredom hours on a row like in some other TWR's )