The ongoing industrial action at bpost’s postal sorting centers in Wallonia and Brussels has resulted in a stalemate between the unions and management. Despite efforts to reach an agreement on Wednesday, the two sides were unable to come to a resolution, potentially prolonging the strike.
The French-speaking unions at bpost have been taking action since Monday due to concerns about the distribution of newspapers. With the government’s decision to no longer use a concession system, publishers are now required to contract directly with postal companies. This has led to fears among the unions about employment and working conditions at bpost.
Bpost has proposed transferring newspaper volumes gradually to its subsidiary AMP, which already handles supply for 4,000 points of sale nationwide. However, the unions remain opposed to this solution. Stéphane Daussaint of the Christian union CSC-Transcom Postes stated, “We have made some progress, but we need to address fundamental issues before resuming work.”
Despite this setback, negotiations between management and the unions are scheduled for Thursday. However, both sides are pessimistic about reaching an agreement soon. The Christian and socialist unions believe that it is unlikely that staff will return to work until their demands are met.
In Brussels and Wallonia, disruptions in letter distribution have caused significant problems for both individuals and businesses alike. There have been no trade union actions in Flanders so far, but it remains uncertain when or if they will occur as negotiations continue at bpost’s headquarters.