BRUSSELS, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Belgian rail workers are planning strike action in protest against changes the railway operator wants to make to its freight unit.
The strike has been called by one of the two main rail unions, ACOD. The other, Transcom, intends to consult with workers until the end of the month.
The strike would run from 10 p.m. (2000 GMT) on Sunday Oct. 17 to the same time on Monday. ACOD official Jos Dignette said his members also intended to disrupt freight services on October 11, although this would stop short of a full strike. Previous Belgian rail strikes have knocked out Eurostar services between Brussels and London and trains to France, including the high-speed Thalys, which also runs to the Netherlands and Germany.
ACOD says its members are upset about plans by rail operator SNCB/NMBS to transform the freight arm, now called B-Cargo, into a subsidiary functioning as a separate commercial company.
The plan, which includes state aid and a substantial reduction in the capacity of freight activity, was approved by the European Commission in May. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; editing by Andrew Roche)