Railway strikes looming as contract talks between NS, trade unions stall
Railway strikes are looming as collective bargaining talks between NS and the trade unions have stalled. Both FNV and VVMC gave NS an ultimatum to come up with a better offer or face strikes on Friday. NS responded on Sunday with an offer to restart talks, but the unions are unimpressed. The first strike could happen on Friday in the Netherlands’ Midden region.
The trade unions are unhappy with the wage increase NS is offering. “2.55 percent for a year is really scandalous, that doesn’t even come close to inflation, while NS staff have been lagging inflation by more than 5 percent since 2019,” Henri Janssen of FNV said. According to the trade union, 90 percent of its NS members are willing to strike.
FNV gave NS until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday to respond with a better offer. VVMC also gave NS an ultimatum, which expires at 4:00 p.m. on Monday. Trade union CNV will also participate in the strikes, but did not give the rail company an ultimatum, an NS spokesperson told ANP.
NS responded to the ultimatums on Sunday, hoping to get the trade unions back at the negotiation table. “We are disappointed that there is no new collective labor agreement yet,” the spokesperson told the news wire. “NS has not yet made a final offer in the negotiations. That is why we would like to resume the talks quickly. Ultimately, the only place where you conclude a collective labor agreement is at the table.
The trade unions weren’t impressed by NS’s response. VVMC chairman Wim Eilert called it “not very promising,” speaking to ANP. Janssen of FNV said that the time for more negotiations is over without a clear commitment from NS. “Our members clearly indicate that this opportunity has now passed.”
So far, the unions are planning five strikes: in the Midden region on June 6, in the West region on June 10, in the Noord-Wet and Oost regions on June 12, and in the Noord and Zuid regions on June 16. If NS still hasn’t agreed to their demands, there will be a nationwide strike, likely on June 17.
