De Lijn unions demand more staff to process aggression footage: 'Only 3 people for all of Flanders'

Unions representing workers at the Flemish transport company De Lijn are calling for an increase in personnel to manage the growing volume of camera footage documenting aggression on buses and trams. Carlo Maesen of the Christian union ACV stated that the number of employees tasked with processing these incidents has been halved, decreasing from six "social safety experts" in 2020 to just three currently.

Maesen highlighted the severity of the problem, noting that De Lijn registers around 2,000 aggression incidents annually, with approximately 300 involving physical altercations. "The aggression against drivers has decreased slightly recently, but we are seeing more aggression among passengers themselves," he explained, citing fights and disputes over personal belongings or loud phone calls.

“

I think I received a lot of love from Hanwha.

The union representative expressed strong criticism of the current staffing levels, calling the situation "unrealistic." He pointed out that one employee is now responsible for processing incidents across multiple provinces, requiring extensive travel to retrieve data from vehicle hard drives. This situation is expected to worsen as De Lijn controllers and drivers will soon have the option to wear bodycams, potentially generating even more footage.

"If you consider that only 3 employees are serving all of Flanders, you cannot say that safety is a top priority for the Flemish government and De Lijn," Maesen argued. He stressed that investing in more personnel and preventative measures is essential if the company and government are serious about addressing safety concerns. The unions warn that the current workload is unsustainable and increases risks for both passengers and staff.

“

I felt a little strange in my heart.