Only a small majority of 51% voted in favor.
Trade union FNV has announced that it wants to return to the negotiating table with the Dutch Railways (NS) after finding that there was insufficient support among its members for the new collective labour agreement (CAO). This decision came after a small majority of 51% of voting members spoke out in favour of the previously achieved negotiation result, indicating considerable division within the union's ranks.
Henri Janssen, director of FNV Spoor, stressed that although the negotiation result contained positive aspects, it also contained several “sore points” that cannot be overlooked. Among these sore points is the issue of the wage increase, which according to the members is insufficient, especially when compared to the wage increases at other companies, including those in the public transport sector. Janssen stressed the importance of maintaining purchasing power, especially in an era of sky-high inflation, and concluded that the proposed wage increase does not meet the necessary compensation for the arrears that NS employees have incurred.
Another major point of contention is the disparity in the treatment of employees when it comes to night shift exemption, with some roles being exempted from the age of 50 and others at a much higher age. This inconsistency has led to considerable dissatisfaction among staff, who see the differences as grossly unfair.
The lack of broad support for the new collective labour agreement is a sign of the considerable dissatisfaction among members, with many of them, even those who voted in favour of the negotiation result, ultimately being dissatisfied with the final result. Janssen states that FNV Spoor strives for broadly supported agreements, but that these are lacking in the current situation, which points to the need for an improved proposal from NS.
This situation underlines the challenges faced by workers in Dutch public transport, especially in light of economic pressure and rising costs of living. The negotiation process between FNV and NS will be closely monitored by both workers and the wider public, as the outcome will have significant implications for working conditions and the quality of public transport in the Netherlands.
