Strikes in Belgium disrupt transport

Transport services in Belgium have been severely disrupted by strikes protesting against government austerity measures.

Monday's action halted all underground trains, buses and trams in Brussels.

High-speed trains to France, the Netherlands and Germany were suspended, along with Eurostar services to London.

The strike is the latest in a series of weekly protests that will end with a nationwide general strike on 15 December.

Industrial action involving baggage handlers also resulted in

PENGASSAN to Embark on a Three-day Warning Strike over Non-passage of PIB

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has concluded plans to embark on a three-day warning strike in protest against the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and other anti-labour activities of employers in the oil and gas sector.

The warning strike follows the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum issued by the National Executive Council (NEC) of PENGASSAN to the federal government and other concerned employers’ and agencies in the sector.

It said the ultimatum had

Air France puts cost of pilots strike at €500m

Air France has estimated that last month's strike will cost it about €500m (£393m) in lost revenue.

The struggling French flag carrier was in dispute with pilots over plans to expand its budget subsidiary Transavia.

Finance director Pierre-Francois Riolacci said there would be an immediate impact of about 320-350m euros, plus loss of future business.

Shares in Europe's second-biggest airline fell 2.53% on Wednesday following the announcement.

The company has already cut its profit target for 2014.

Air France said that total passenger traffic fell

Air France insists budget airline must be low cost

Air France has said it will go ahead with plans to develop its low cost airline within France despite objections from striking pilots.

Conditions at the budget operator are the main sticking point between management and Air France pilots.

Talks on Thursday failed to find a resolution to the 12 day old strike.

Air France said demands that pilots at the new operation receive the same pay and conditions as at Air France were incompatible with the low-cost model.

The pilots are demanding that the same contract be offered to all pilots across Air-France KLM's subsidiaries.

No single contract

Air France originally hoped to develop its low cost operation, Transavia, via regional hubs around Europe. But

Striking Air France pilots reject offer to end dispute

Air France pilots say they will pursue their strike indefinitely, rejecting the airline's offer to attempt to resolve the dispute.

Air France offered to suspend plans to expand its budget carrier Transavia.

But the pilots' SNPL union described that move as a "smokescreen" that offered no more guarantees than previous offers.

Air France's chief executive Alexandre de Juniac warned the strike could have "catastrophic consequences".

The eight-day-old strike is the airline's longest since 1998 and has been costing 15m euros (£11.8m; $19.3m) a day.

Jean-Louis Barber, head of the Air France section of the SNPL union said: "As long as management does not change its philosophy and as long as Air France management will not conduct real talks in a

Air France pilots begin week-long strike over jobs move

Pilots for Air France have begun a week-long strike.

The carrier will run less than 50% of normal flights, it said.

The pilots are protesting against a transfer of jobs by the airline to a low-cost carrier to keep up with competition.

Air France is urging passengers around the world to change or postpone travel. Last week it said it would transfer much of its European operations to low-cost carrier Transavia.

The same difficult conditions are faced by large airlines across Europe, facing tough rivalry from budget airlines and Gulf state carriers, that are often backed by royal families.

Lufthansa strike

Chief Executive Frederic Gagey told France Inter radio that the strike would cost the airline 10m to 15m euros (£8m - £12m) a day.

The airline said it would consider negotiation on benefits based on

Lufthansa pilots' strike means travel chaos for thousands

Lufthansa said a pilots' strike later on Friday will mean cancelling 200 flights and hit the travel plans of about 250,000 passengers.

The German airline has been locked in a dispute with the Vereinigung Cockpit union over an early retirement scheme.

Lufthansa said short-haul and medium-haul flights leaving Frankfurt airport, Europe's third largest, will be hit.

Pilots at Lufthansa's budget carrier Germanwings went on strike last week over early retirement.

Friday's strike will involve a six-hour stoppage from