Belgian postal unions have agreed with the bpost management on a timetable for futurenegotiations following the nationwide strike last Friday that completely disrupted mail delivery
across the country.Up to 90% of bpost workers joined last week’s strike to protest against the company’s strategicplan to restructure its logistics activities and against low wages for unskilled workers.
The backlog in mail resulting from the strike action will be cleared with the remaining lettersto be distributed in the next few days, a bpost spokesperson told Belgian media.
Yesterday morning, all bpost sorting centres resumed operations including Brussels X which wasblocked by a few people during the night from Monday to Tuesday.
Bpost spokesman Piet Van Speybroeck explained: “From Monday 11 pm to Tuesday 8 am, some peopleprevented the mail from being dispatched from the depot at Brussels X.” These letters will bedelivered today, he added. “This action was irresponsible; it is an abuse of the right to strike.”Meanwhile, the stoppage has been lifted with mail being distributed as normal.
Most mail items have now been delivered with the postmen concentrating on the delivery ofdelayed shipments.
Yesterday, the bpost executives met with the trade unions to fix a time schedule for the nextnegotiations between the two parties. According to the trade union CSC, the climate at the meetingwas diplomatic but no substantial discussions have been initiated.
The next meeting is set for Friday prior to negotiations with the company’s CEO Johnny Thijsthat will take place on 21 February. Other possible negotiation dates were set for the 24thFebruary, and if necessary, for 3rd March, according to Belgian media reports.
