40 Bus Drivers Protest After Manager’s Firing in Heusden-Zolder

Heusden-Zolder (Eurotoday Newspaper) – Limburg bus drivers protested after their trusted local manager was suddenly fired. The unions say poor communication and a lack of information about upcoming changes caused confusion and frustration.

As VRT News reported, the sudden firing of the local bus manager has caused an uproar among Limburg DE Lijn’s drivers. The drivers and unions are upset because they had a great relationship with this manager. He was known for good communication and understanding their daily work. They mentioned that the manager was a key person who helped the drivers communicate with the main company leaders. 

Why are 40 Limburg bus drivers protesting after the manager’s sudden firing?

The drivers were very frustrated that the manager was fired without any warning or discussion. blank”>As a result, around 40 drivers decided not to start their routes on Thursday morning, June 5, 2025, to protest the decision, which led to major disruptions in Heusden-Zolder, a municipality in the province of Limburg, Belgium and Hasselt.

The bus drivers’ unions are supporting the protest, saying it’s about more than just the manager’s firing. They feel that the company’s top leaders don’t listen to local employees. The unions believe that firing a trusted person without talking to the drivers makes them feel discouraged. 

Because of the protest, some bus routes are delayed or cancelled, leaving passengers stranded. People are advised to check for travel updates before they leave. The unions want to talk to the company’s main leaders right away to fix the problem and regain the drivers’ trust.

The De Lijn’s local manager was fired just before a change on July 1, 2025. This made the staff worried. Carlo Maesen, from the union, said the manager was important. The manager helped the workers understand things. 

Now, they don’t know who to ask questions. People are scared because they think something is wrong with how the company is changing. They believe the timing is bad and that there might be problems with the change.

The union is worried because the company’s silence is making things worse. The staff hasn’t heard anything about their new schedules or jobs after July 1. This lack of information is making everyone confused and frustrated. 

They need to know their duties, but the company hasn’t given them out. The union fears that if the company doesn’t start talking and being clear, the changes could be a mess, with workers not trusting the leaders.