Public transit strikes in Amsterdam, Utrecht underway

Travelers in Amsterdam and Utrecht had to struggle through Thursday morning's rush hour without public transport. Public transit employees in these two cities are striking between 5:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. The strike affected buses, trams and metros. This action was organized by union FNV. The employees are protesting against the wage agreement that the Cabinet made with three smaller unions for 600 thousand civil servants and teachers. FNV wants the agreement cancel because it negatively affects the pensions of 2.8 million members of the ABP pension fund. The public transport in both cities will slowly but surely start up again once the strike is over. Transporter GVB expects that all public transport will run according to schedule again around 11:00 a.m. According to NU, Utrecht expects delays to last until noon. FNV has also arranged another protest against this controversial agreement for later on Thursday. This strike will involve municipal staff in Amsterdam, including office staff, garbage collectors and street cleaners, and will take place between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., the Parool reports. The union expects that between 500 and a thousand civil servants will participate. They will gather at the Stopera between 11:30 and 12:30 for a demonstration.