Brussels: Europe and Arabs
Shortly after the announcement of the formation of a new government in the country, trade unions in Belgium decided to take to the streets in Brussels, today, Thursday, to protest against measures that the federal government intends to take. The strike began this morning and participants gathered in a protest march in the morning in front of the Brussels North train station at 9 am on Thursday and in prisons, the union strike began at 10 pm on Wednesday.
In the public transport authority De Lijn, nearly half of the buses and trams are operating and there are also disruptions in the movement of the other transport company MIVB in Brussels and the media said this morning that the airports are completely stopped and there will also be problems with mail and household waste collection, among other things.
It was not limited to Brussels the capital, as several ferry services were stopped in the province of Antwerp on Thursday due to the union strike. The Maritime and Coastal Services Agency reported on Thursday that three ferries were specifically affected.
Ferry services between Kruibeek and Hoboken, and between Basel and Hemexum, will be stopped until Friday, February 14, at 08:00. The ferry service from Sint Anna in Antwerp will be stopped on Thursday 13 February from 6:00 am until at least 11:30 pm.

UNIZO criticizes union demonstration: "harmful to our economy and our future"
On the other hand, the UNIZO union, an independent union, describes the union actions against the reform plans proposed by the De Wever government as "harmful to our economy and the future of our country". The independent organization calls for a social consultation. UNIZO also fears an economic bloodbath, it says. "We fear an escalation. These measures are harmful to our economy and the future of our country," says the union's CEO, Danny Van Asch.

He criticizes the fact that some unions are inciting their supporters with "half-truths". Van Asch emphasizes that "many of the measures that the unions are now mobilizing against are necessary so that our children and grandchildren can also enjoy a pension and health insurance".
UNIZO calls on the unions to abandon their strike plans and enter into consultations with employers' organizations. "Threatening to close the country for a long time at a time when our economy is suffering is completely irresponsible," she said. "Let's first do a proper analysis together. What are the real consequences and why are certain measures needed? Staying disconnected from reality, selling lies and holding on to unrealizable expectations will not guarantee our future."

Shipping traffic suffers slightly from union measures
The maritime chain will continue as normal on Thursday morning. There were also no delays around the port of Antwerp last night due to the national demonstration and trade union activities, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and the Maritime and Coastal Services Agency (MDK) reported. Something could change during the day.

Protesters gather at Brussels North Station
A large group of unionists had already gathered an hour before the start of the union demonstration in Brussels on Thursday. The area around the North Station is colored red, green and blue. The first fireworks are also being launched. The police are in large numbers and are keeping an eye on things.
The scapegoat among the demonstrators is the De Wever government. While still in the formative stages, there were already major protests against the government’s pension plans. Now, after the announcement of the coalition agreement, the unions’ discontent is focused on a wide range of announced measures. For example, a tougher approach to the unemployed, the abolition of the social welfare program, pension adjustments, which will certainly be difficult for civil servants, and more flexibility for employees or savings in public services. The three unions expect a large turnout for the national demonstration in Brussels on Thursday. The protesters are aiming to gather more than 50,000 participants, or even “double” the number of participants in the demonstrations last January, when 30,000 marched through the capital. Before the start, the ACLVB union also organized a recreational activity to draw attention to the need for greater balance in social and economic policy. It focused on themes such as “fair wages,” “employable work,” “fair taxation” and “real social dialogue.” But they were thrown off balance by "provocateurs" wearing the masks of Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) and the head of the Liberal Movement party, Georges-Louis Boucher.