Three days of strike goes by North Holland bus passengers ‘almost unnoticed’

Mostly around Schiphol, almost all buses ran according to the normal timetable. More than 90 percent of bus drivers were working there in recent days. Travelers were most affected in the Zaan region, where almost half of the timetable was canceled, according to Connexxion spokesperson Jonne van Eck.

FNV estimates the figures very differently, 60 percent of the buses dropped out, estimates FNV spokesperson Veronika Teunissen. “The vast majority of our members are participating in this three-day strike.” The turnout differs a lot in different regions, she says.

The reason for the low percentage of strikers is that only the trade union FNV strikes, of which about half of the bus drivers are members.

This Wednesdayon the first day of strike, was at some stations slight chaos. Nevertheless, Connexxion received few complaints in the past three days. Travelers association Rover confirms that image. “We do hear complaints, but a lot is still driving, so it’s not that bad. For the few people who miss a bus, it is of course very annoying.”

Irritation in Alkmaar

Such as Wednesday in Alkmaar, where waiting travelers became annoyed by a lack of information. “I understand why they are on strike, but many people are now the victims of this,” said a traveler from Noord-Scharwoude. “The signs are off and it is also very unclear on the internet which buses are running. You know about strikes in advance, so communicate this well because many people depend on public transport. If nothing is running, then you are sitting.”

Van Eck confirms that it was confusing for travelers on Wednesday. “The first day there were a lot of questions about what would and wouldn’t drive. We try to implement everything as quickly as possible in travel apps, but that has to be done manually and sometimes something slips in between. GLast night and today many people managed to plan around the strike.”

Tanja Copal of the VWOV (Association of Public Transport Employers), which co-decides on the collective labor agreement, calls the strike ‘completely pointless’. “We will no longer discuss the collective labor agreement for 2021-2022. It is almost over and we cannot change those things, such as lowering the workload, with retroactive effect.”

With the trade union CNV, which is not participating in the strike, the employers’ union has agreed that all bus drivers will receive an extra one-off 1,000 euros. This is to compensate for the expensive groceries and high energy prices. Talks about the collective labor agreement for 2023 have yet to start, but current strikes are not aimed at that. Those negotiations have not yet started.

Strike not only because of the current collective labor agreement

According to Teunissen, the strikes are not only about changing the current collective labor agreement, although they have never signed it. “We are afraid that if we take the pressure off the kettle, we will no longer be taken seriously. They are right that we cannot go back in time. But we do want substantial compensation for the increased energy prices and inflation. So not a one-off 1,000 euros, but a structural salary increase. We also want to make agreements with employers to reduce absenteeism and work pressure.”