During a demonstration with hundreds of bus drivers at the Koekamp in The Hague, the trade union FNV called on employers to “talk further about a good collective labor agreement”. This must be done within five weeks, otherwise a three-day strike in regional transport will follow.
The new strikes in regional transport should take place on 19, 20 and 21 October. Whether the strikes will continue and what they will look like depends on discussions with the employers. “We will then strike if there are no decent proposals from employers,” says FNV director Marijn van der Gaag.
A week ago, some of the drivers in Drenthe stopped working and today a second strike followed. They demand higher wages, more staff and a reduction in workload. Some of the drivers from Drenthe traveled to The Hague for the demonstration at the Koekamp, including Greet Benjamins from Hoogeveen.
“If we don’t do this, there won’t be a bus in five years. The cutbacks will cost jobs and have to stop at some point. This is a profession where we have to transport people safely, not be hunted. People are falling in droves,” says Benjamins about the workload. “I still have three years to go, but I also stand here for the younger generation.” She says she supports further actions.
FNV chairman Tuur Elzinga said during the meeting that the union will continue with actions until there is a good collective labor agreement. In his speech he also addressed the employers and politicians. “The tenders – for which the government is responsible – has meant that employees have been drawing the short straw for years. Profitability is paramount, not quality anymore. Competition is high, transport companies offer themselves too cheaply and the employee pays the price. A perverse system.”
According to Van der Gaag, about 70 percent of the timetables in regional transport will not be driven on Friday due to the strike. Fred Kagie, chairman of the Association of Public Transport Employers (VWOV), contradicts this. According to him, 20 to 30 percent of the trips are not carried out.