TEC unions maintain two-day strike across Wallonia

Updated 25 August 2026, 18:00 CEST — WALLONIA. The joint trade-union front representing TEC employees maintained its strike notice on Tuesday for Thursday 27 and Friday 28 August, confirming the prospect of disruption across the Walloon public-transport network. RTBF reported that the decision followed another meeting between unions and management that failed to produce an agreement.

The action covers the entire TEC network, including buses across Wallonia, the Liège

Place

Liège

Walloon city whose tram and bus services are exposed to the strike.

Why it matters

Walloon city whose tram and bus services are exposed to the strike.

About

Liège is a city and municipality in the Belgian region of Wallonia, and the capital of the eponymous province. The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east of Belgium, not far from borders with the Netherlands and Germany. In Liège, the Meuse meets the river Ourthe. The city is part of the sillon industriel, the former industrial backbone of Wallonia. It is still the principal economic and cultural centre of the region.

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Place

Charleroi

Walloon city whose light-metro and bus services are exposed to the strike.

Why it matters

Walloon city whose light-metro and bus services are exposed to the strike.

About

Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. It is the largest city in both Hainaut and Wallonia. The city is situated in the valley of the Sambre, in the south-west of Belgium, not far from the border with France. By 1 January 2008, the total population of Charleroi was 201,593.

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The immediate dispute concerns the renewal of annual eco-vouchers worth €100 for employees. According to RTBF and La Libre, the unions want the benefit retained, while management has linked its position to anticipated federal changes affecting eco-vouchers. The precise federal rules cited in the talks have not yet been published in the Belgian Official Gazette, according to the reporting available on Tuesday.

The strike notice follows an unsuccessful regional conciliation meeting on 5 August, the University of Liège said in a mobility advisory corroborating the dates and network-wide scope. L’Echo reported on 21 August that the unions had formally announced action for both days. The joint front comprises the CGSP, CSC public-services wing and Synova, according to Belgian media reports.

The timing increases the practical impact. French-speaking schools reopened on 24 August, placing the stoppage in the first week of the new school year. Pupils, parents, commuters and people relying on buses to reach healthcare or public services face the greatest disruption, particularly where no rail service or realistic alternative exists. The University of Liège has asked members of its community to arrange shared journeys where possible.

The dispute also sits within a longer period of difficult labour relations at TEC. Earlier action in 2026 centred on planned savings and revisions to the operator’s public-service contract. Those broader disagreements form the backdrop, but the confirmed trigger for this week’s notice is the unresolved eco-voucher issue.

Passengers should check the TEC website and app shortly before departure and prepare another route where possible. The principal unknowns are how many employees will join the strike, which individual journeys will operate and whether further talks before Thursday can narrow the disruption.