Letec Strike: No Buses in Charleroi, Disruptions in Wallonia

A 48-hour strike on the Letec bus network has brought public transport to a standstill in Charleroi and caused significant disruptions across Wallonia on Thursday and Friday, as unions protest the elimination of a 100-euro annual eco-cheque benefit for approximately 6,000 employees. RTBF reports that no buses or metros are operating in Charleroi and its surrounding region, with picket lines organized by the Synova union at the Jumet and Genson depots.

Widespread Disruption Across the Region

The impact extends well beyond Charleroi. In Namur, more than 40 percent of scheduled trips have been cancelled, while in Liège-Verviers, one in three journeys is suspended. Isabelle Tasset, spokesperson for the Letec Liège-Verviers network, warned that the situation could worsen, noting that “the disruptions are linked to workers participating in the strike movement and not returning to service.” She added that cancellations could reach one in two trips if the movement intensifies.

According to RTL, only 4 of 25 buses are running in Anderlues, roughly 20 percent of services are operating in Mons, and about 30 percent in western Hainaut around Tournai. On average, only about 30 percent of buses are running across Wallonia. L’Avenir confirms that the Jumet and Genson depots are blocked by picket lines, with only a few exceptions from more distant depots keeping some routes operational.

The strike coincides with the start of the school year, causing significant disruption for students and parents returning to school across the French-speaking region of Belgium.

The Dispute Behind the Strike

The strike was called by the common union front—comprising CGSP Tram-Bus-Metro, Synova, and CSC Services publics—after the failure of a regional conciliation in early August. At the heart of the dispute is the elimination of eco-cheques worth 100 euros per year for TEC employees. The convention governing this benefit ended in December 2025 and was not renewed.

Serge Delchambre, secretary of CGSP Tram-Bus-Metro, argues that management has been inconsistent in its justifications. “The worst part is they didn’t say it,” he told RTL. “They gave us many, many excuses to finally tell us: we put them in the savings.” He added that the federal government’s planned elimination of eco-cheques was not actually included in published legislation, yet management still refused to maintain the benefit.

Delchambre also expressed frustration with management’s approach to the broader savings plan. “The real problem is they tell us ‘we’re going to make savings together’ and the next day they don’t consult us,” he said. “Trust is eroding. You have to understand that everyone needs money. Taxes are rising. And say what you will, a hundred euros is a hundred euros. A bus driver doesn’t earn 4,000 euros a month.”

Management’s Position

Stéphane Thiery, marketing director at Letec, maintains that the eco-cheque issue was not on the agenda of the Tuesday meeting between unions and management. “This was in no way a last-chance meeting to preserve these eco-cheques,” he said. “The discussions, planned for several months, focused on the savings plan imposed by the regional government on Letec.”

Letec is required to make approximately 20 million euros in savings by 2029, as mandated by the Walloon government, representing just over 2 percent of its overall budget. The public service contract governing Letec activities from 2024 to 2028 was presented in June by Walloon Mobility Minister François Desquesnes and OTW management.

A Broader Pattern of Labor Tensions

This strike follows a 12-day walkout in January and February 2026, one of the most significant mobilizations in the francophone public transport sector in recent years. That dispute was resolved when unions and management agreed to freeze reform measures and set a deadline of end of 2026 for a full agreement, as RTBF reported at the time. The current eco-cheque dispute represents a new flashpoint in these ongoing tensions.

Several spontaneous strikes have also occurred in 2026, including in the Centre region in July and in Mons-Borinage in August due to heat conditions.

What’s Next

Further significant disruptions are expected on Friday as the strike continues. A new meeting between unions and management is scheduled for September 10 to discuss savings measures. Delchambre warns that the social climate remains fragile, and further actions cannot be ruled out if no agreement is reached before the end-of-2026 deadline for a comprehensive settlement.

Commuters across Wallonia are advised to check the Letec website or mobile app for real-time service updates and to plan alternative transport arrangements where possible.