While the discussion in Ter Apel is mainly about the free shuttle bus, the FNV trade union is urging transport company Qbuzz to do more for the safety of drivers.
The union believes that Qbuzz as an employer does not do enough to prevent nuisance and unsafe situations in and near buses to the registration center in Ter Apel, despite an agreement signed in 2022.
The municipality of Westerwolde, which includes Ter Apel, decided last week to make the shuttle bus between Emmen station and the registration center temporarily free to reduce inconvenience on the normal Qbuzz bus lines. There, mainly non-paying safelanders caused problems. The free shuttle bus has led to some criticism.
The Munckhof company, which arranges the shuttle bus transport for Drenthe Tours, says that the shuttle buses are busier since travelers no longer need a ticket.
The free shuttle bus system will end on December 30. The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers needs until then to restart ticket sales.
In the meantime, FNV is not confident that drivers of the bus lines around Emmen and Ter Apel are safe. In an open letter to Qbuzz, the union calls for a quick meeting to discuss the problems. “There has been a lot of unrest around this line in recent weeks, including due to the plan to make transport temporarily free. This has led to uncertainty, social unrest and an unsafe situation for bus drivers,” writes FNV.
FNV wants Qbuzz to return to previously made agreements that are laid down in that security agreement. This includes extra deployment of boas and quick contact between drivers and enforcement. According to FNV, Qbuzz has now abandoned these agreements.
Qbuzz could not yet be reached for a response.