THE FIRST general strike in Belgium in 12 years last week virtually paralysed the country’s transport industry. Around 300 000 union workers stayed home - protesting the government’s desire to change the minimum age for early retirement to 60. The Port of Antwerp, one of Europe’s largest, was shut for business, said Schednet.com, the high-speed Eurostar train service was halted and flights from Brussels International Airport seriously delayed. A Reuters report added that, if the two sides did not reach an agreement, a larger strike would be staged near the end of the month.
