Trade unions in Belgium staged a nationwide strike against announced cuts by the De Wever government to public services. The action affected schools, public transport and waste collection, and was initiated by the socialist trade union ACOD. Fewer SNCB trains were running until 10 p.m., affecting services to and from the Netherlands, while buses, trams and metros were also reduced. Employees of Flemish public broadcaster VRT joined the strike; several television programmes were cancelled, news bulletins shortened and radio schedules largely replaced by music. VRT is facing a further €10 million in cuts, and a decision on additional action is due on 9 November.

The strike took place amid a government crisis over the budget, which had also led to the postponement of the prime minister’s planned State of the Union. A Brussels protest against social-security cuts the previous Friday had ended in unrest, with at least 110 arrests reported. In Liège, a ban on cooperation had been declared after education protests escalated, although those protests had partly subsided.