<p>Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) is advising that port workers in Belgium today (24 November 2014), started a 24 hour strike which will end at midnight 00:00hrs.</p>
<p>The strike by port labourers has been called by three national unions, in protest over the erosion of index-linked pay rises and tax increases.</p>
<p>Currently the strike is having a major effect on shipping operations in the area with the ports of Zeebrugge, Ghent and Antwerp particularly affected. ISS Belgium has advised that there is a backlog of 65 ships waiting at anchorage to call the Port of Antwerp with a further 12 vessels waiting to depart.</p>
<p>It is anticipated that this current 24 hour strike will be followed by a national general strike on 15 December 2014.</p>
<p><strong>Press Release</strong></p>
<p><strong>Image Credit</strong>: Wikimedia</p>
