Flemish Minister of the Interior and Administrative Affairs Gwendolyn Rutten (Open VLD) is having a meeting today with the unions of the lock staff. She said that in De Ochtend on Radio 1.
Shipping traffic to and from the Flemish ports has been largely at a standstill since Monday afternoon as a result of industrial action at various locks. The actions come out of dissatisfaction with the negotiations on the new statute for the staff of the Flemish government. Last week, a strike notice from the three unions was handed over to Minister Van Rutten.
“An official negotiator is currently at work. He will report today and I informed the unions today that consultations are planned today,” says Minister Rutten. “I picked up my phone this morning and called the three unions.”
Minister Rutten also reiterates that negotiations on the modernization of the Flemish civil servant statute have been completed. “But if there are still uncertainties about the agreements made, these must be clarified.”