“The management of NS only wants to be around the table with the trade unions when the actions are suspended, but puts virtually nothing new in return,” says Henri Janssen, director FNV Spoor. “We find that unacceptable.”
Due to the strike there are no trains in Noord-Holland, Flevoland, Gelderland and a large part of Overijssel on Tuesday, reports the Dutch Railways. A train runs four times per hour between Hoofddorp, Schiphol and Amsterdam Central.
According to a spokesperson for the FNV trade union, the strikes will also have consequences outside the region for the timetable. “It works like an oil slick,” he says. With previous actions, the Dutch Railways therefore decided to stop train traffic throughout the country, that is not the case tomorrow.
‘Salary must be 7 percent up’
It is the fourth strike in two weeks. Trade unions VVMC, FNV and CNV are dissatisfied with the collective labor agreement negotiations for the approximately 17,500 employees. The FNV wants wages to go up by 7 percent per year at the Dutch Railways. According to the union, wages have not been giving up with inflation in recent years.
The Dutch Railways first suggested 3 percent a year, but the union thinks that is far too little. Last Friday, on the third strike day, the Dutch Railways made a new bid: 3.25 percent in 2025 and 2.75 percent in 2026. The trade unions also find that insufficient.
Is not just about money
FNV Spoor emphasizes that it is not just about wages. They also want better agreements about employment conditions. Consider, for example, an arrangement with which people with heavy professions can stop working earlier.
In the previous collective agreement, NS staff received about 6 percent. In 2022, when there was also a stopping, the wage increase was 9 percent.
“It is a shame that the attitude of the Dutch Railways will not run any trains again,” Janssen emphasizes. “If the NS does not meet the expectations of our members after tomorrow’s strikes, new strikes will soon follow. We will not exclude national strikes either.”