Brussels Firefighters Continue Indefinite Strike Over Staffing Shortages

The Brussels firefighters' union has announced an indefinite strike, citing a critical personnel shortage and what they describe as the "hollowing out" of their service. The decision follows a fruitless meeting with Brussels Minister-President Boris Dilliès.

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Dilliès offers us even less than was initially decided by the government.

Union representative Steven Gilissen stated that the Brussels government offered no viable solutions to fill the staff deficit promptly or address underfunding. He expressed disappointment, noting that the proposals were less than what the government had previously agreed upon.

Minister-President Dilliès acknowledged the firefighters' anger and concerns, recognizing some issues as real and needing attention. He highlighted measures already in place, including the recruitment of 40 new firefighters by year-end and significant investments in modernizing infrastructure and operational capabilities.

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We can only start building a new recruitment reserve in the first or second quarter of 2027, but it will take until 2029 for these firefighters to be effectively operational.

However, Gilissen remains skeptical that these measures will adequately resolve the personnel shortage in a timely manner. He pointed out that building a new recruitment reserve would not yield operational firefighters until 2029, leaving the service understaffed for the foreseeable future. Dilliès reiterated that his door remains open for further dialogue.

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I hear the anger and the concerns that have been expressed today. Some of the mentioned problems are real and must be addressed. Several measures have already been set in motion, others still require work and consultation. I regret that we could not bring the positions closer together today, but my door remains open.