Trade union FNV has announced a nationwide 24‑hour strike in public transport on Wednesday, 9 September. This strike is a protest against the cabinet’s plans to cut social security. According to the union, rail, regional, and urban transport across the country will come to a standstill for the entire day. Employees from NS, ProRail, DB Cargo, and regional and urban operators are all participating. Travellers with important appointments are advised to arrange alternative transport.
Impact
Despite the announcement, NS says it cannot yet assess how the strike will affect train services. FNV has not yet formally notified the operator, while NS requires an official notice to determine the operational impact. According to an NS spokeswoman, “it could take quite a while” before the notification arrives.
Expect delays and cancellations
NS warns that a full‑day strike will have much greater impact on passengers than the previous half-day event on 24 June. If the strike goes ahead, the spokeswoman says NS will be “bummed about it”. Regional operator Arriva also expects significant disruption. The company says it will operate services “where possible”. However, the provider cannot guarantee that buses or trains will run on schedule. Arriva, active in seven provinces, calls it “unacceptable” that public transport is again being used for union actions against government policy, stressing that passengers ultimately bear the consequences.
Further strikes
FNV board member Edwin Kuiper says the union is aware of the disruption. He, however, argues that the consequences of weakening social security are far more serious. The union opposes measures such as the accelerated increase of the state pension age, shorter unemployment benefits, and cutbacks to the Work and Income Act (WIA). “These plans undermine the livelihood security of millions of workers and their families”, adds FNV board member Henri Janssen. The union has also announced upcoming actions in other sectors, including ports, waste processing, cleaning, and the metal industry. Dates for those strikes will be announced later.
@anp | NEWSBRAINPORT
