Transit strike in the Netherlands led to empty bus stands in Eindhoven

A bus stand at Eindhoven Station left empty as regional transit workers walked off the job. January 4, 2018. - Credit: photo: WillardPeetoom / Twitter

Thursday, 4 January 2018 - 12:09

Transit strike strands tourists at Eindhoven Airport, Station

The strike of regional public transportation workers in the Netherlands caused a great deal of problems for travellers on their way to and from the Eindhoven Airport. The strike had been announced on Jan. 2 by the labor unions CNV and FNV, though not everybody was prepared for Thursday's inconvenience.

A crowd of tourists was wandering around in confusion on Thursday morning at the train stations of Eindhoven trying to find their way to the airport, according to multiple reports. However, most of the scheduled bus service between Eindhoven Station and the airport were scrapped due to the strike. Passengers voiced their frustration on Thursday morning.

"No buses? I did not know that. They did not give out proper information," a tourist told omroepbrabant.nl, "What nonsense", adds another, "When I purchased my ticket, I thought the bus would run. But what can I do about it?"

"Funny how unions think they're helping people by going on strike. Yeah no transportation from Eindhoven airport to the train station is great help," Amsterdam DJ Ruben Kusters said on Twitter before sarcastically thanking the FNV on Wednesday night. The next morning he complained about paying 32.50 euro for a taxi from the airport to the station, before stating "Fuck you" to the FNV and Hermes public transit operator.

Zelden zo'n rustig busstation gezien #staking #Eindhoven pic.twitter.com/9PzqZpejCI
— WillardPeetoom (@WillardPeetoom) January 4, 2018

"Normally we have to wait three or four hours for a call", a taxi driver told the broadcaster, pleased with the golden times for cabbies working Thursday in Eindhoven. "Now I can drive after half an hour".

The public transport strike was scheduled to end at 11 p.m. on Thursday. Transit workers are on strike for better working conditions. They complain because they are often under extreme pressure to stick to their schedules, forcing them to "hold it in" instead of going to the bathroom, and to work through their meal breaks. They also called for a 3.5 percent raise.