Brussels Airlines faces strike over Tel Aviv flights

The Belgian trade union ACV Puls has filed a strike notice against Brussels Airlines after the company decided to require employees to work on flights to Tel Aviv, according to the union's statement.

Brussels Airlines intends to resume services to Tel Aviv this month and, as reported, has been assigning staff to these flights on a compulsory basis. The union claims this violates a prior agreement with the airline, which stipulated that only volunteers would be assigned to Tel Aviv routes.

Employees have expressed serious concerns regarding physical safety, as well as psychological and ethical considerations associated with operating these flights. The union argues that mandatory assignments breach the employer's duty to safeguard staff from health and safety risks.

ACV Puls also disputes the airline's assessment that conditions are safe enough to resume operations. The union points to the Belgian Foreign Ministry's advisory against non-essential travel to the region, emphasizing that Tel Aviv should not be regarded as a standard workplace.

The strike notice, filed because Brussels Airlines is compelling employees to fly to Israel, came into effect on September 1. The union has warned of further actions if the decision is not overturned.

Jolinde Defieuw, an ACV Puls representative, stated: "There are serious concerns among staff about both physical safety and the mental and ethical impact of these flights."

Defieuw noted that Brussels Airlines is not providing employees with the option to decline such assignments. She added: "This is particularly serious in the context of the ongoing war and the genocide in Gaza. A lack of volunteers cannot be used as an excuse to force employees. Anyone with serious safety or conscientious objections should be able to refuse these flights without financial, professional or disciplinary penalties."

Photo: Chat GPT