Belgian transport, industry hit by strike over pay curb

A 24-hour strike protesting the government's wage restraint policy tied up mass transit and industry throughout much of Belgium Thursday. The two leading union groups, the socialist General Labor Federation and the Federation of Christian Trade Unions, called the walkout over legislation limiting pay increases to the official cost-of-living index for two years, for all but the lowest paid. The bill was expected t o be enacted later in the day by the Senate.