2 weeks Ago
No alternative transportation, no cut to impact.
This is an important rail junction in the Netherlands. Because employees from here will strike, NS cannot run any trains. The company also announced there won't be any tents available for alternative transport options. "A train fits 1,000 people, a bus fits 50; that is impossible to organize," said a spokesman. At a time of strike, NS is also not allowed to offer replacement transport because of legal rules, they said.
The FNV union said this week that the strike was confirmed after NS failed to meet a deadline to meet wage demands. Negotiations on the collective labor agreement collapsed in May. FNV, together with labor union VVMC, is calling for a 4 percent wage increase on March 1, 2025, and again on March 1, 2026. They had condemned the offer from NS of a 2.55 percent work condition raise as more than inadequate and "scandalous."
Additional Strikes Scheduled as Demand Grows for Improvements
VVMC director Wim Eilert: 'The action is aimed at the NS and the passengers are not the intended victims, but the NS has left the trade unions no alternative. High work pressure and many vacancies cause new employees to leave, often motivated by a lack of signature or workflow, says Henri Janssen of FNV. Need for better collective agreements A need for improved collective agreements to help resolve the issue is another point highlighted by them.
There will be further strikes in the North-West and East regions on June 12 and in the North and South on June 16. If no agreement is reached, the strike will likely go ahead on Tuesday, June 17.
Regional train services are scheduled to run as normal on Friday, although NS trains will not. The long-distance international trains should also operate as planned. NS said it expected service to return to normal on Saturday.
NS apologized to travelers that this was annoying, especially since many people are working from home and the Pinkster weekend is ahead. "Yes, it is very inconvenient that there are no trains running. "Meanwhile, striking is a right," the spokesman said, and while talks have stopped, NS is open to returning to talks.
