Belgium grinds to a halt for one-day general strike

Source: The Guardian - London

Belgium was brought to a standstill on Monday by a 24-hour general strike as the country’s powerful unions grounded air, rail and sea links, and forced businesses, schools and government offices to close.

The strike is the latest in a series of actions against the austerity policies of the centre-right government headed by the Ffrancophone, liberal prime minister, Charles Michel, who took office in October.

The unions are protesting against plans to kickstart the economy and balance the books by raising the pension age, freezing wages and cutting public services.

All train services, including the Eurostar, were halted, and airspace closed, while local bus and trams remained in their depots. Roads were blocked in Brussels, while pickets gathered in force around the European quarter, the National Bank, the canal and the Audi factory. With most schools closed, many Belgians who could reach their workplace chose to stay at home to look after their children.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/15/belgium-unions-general-strike-charles-michel