The tension between the unions and the Dutch Railways (NS) is reaching a new peak.
The Dutch Trade Union Federation (FNV) has officially announced that NS employees will stop work on September 11. This strike, which will take place between 04.00 a.m. and 08.00 a.m., is a direct result of the growing dissatisfaction among staff with the current heavy work arrangement. The scheme, which allows employees with physically and mentally demanding work to retire earlier, expires in 2025, and a new and improved alternative has so far been delayed.
The announcement of the strike did not come out of the blue. In recent months, NS employees have expressed their concerns increasingly loudly. According to Karel de Buijzer, director at the FNV, there is a "double irregularity" among the driving staff and maintenance staff. He explains: “The employees have to deal with irregular schedules that also change often. In addition, there is a lot of physically demanding work. You can't keep that up until you're 68.” The double burden of physical exertion and mental stress resulting from the unpredictable working conditions makes the situation untenable for many NS employees.
The call to action appears to be widely supported among NS employees. Support for the strike is growing by the day, and more and more action leaders are signing up to coordinate the action on September 11. The signal is clear: the employees are determined to enforce a permanent and improved heavy work arrangement. They want to ensure that those who have worked hard for years have the opportunity to retire early and thus safeguard their health and well-being.
The planned work stoppage is part of a broader wave of actions planned in the week before Budget Day, in which employees from various sectors will express their dissatisfaction with working conditions and pension schemes. For example, a strike in the cleaning industry is scheduled for September 9, followed by a work stoppage in urban transport on September 10. In addition to the NS, employees in the construction and metal sectors will also stop work on September 11. These coordinated actions are intended to increase pressure on employers and the government and make it clear that current arrangements are not sufficient to alleviate workload and insecurity in many sectors.
“It is crucial that we act as a unit to ensure there is a lasting solution to the heavy work scheme,”
The FNV has all NS employees summoned to participate in the strike. The union emphasizes the importance of solidarity among employees in order to send a strong signal to the NS management and the government. The NS has now confirmed that it is aware of the announced work stoppage and says it will take measures to ensure safety during the strike.
The situation surrounding the heavy work scheme is not unique to the NS. There is dissatisfaction in several sectors about the lack of future prospects for employees who perform heavy physical work. The actions planned in the week before Budget Day underline the growing willingness among employees to fight for their rights and better working conditions.
The strike at NS on September 11 is therefore not only a battle over the heavy work arrangements, but also a symbol of the broader dissatisfaction with working conditions in the Netherlands. Whether these actions will actually lead to an improvement in the situation remains to be seen. The fact is that the unrest among employees does not seem to be disappearing anytime soon, and the pressure on employers and the government to come up with solutions is only increasing.
