No talks between the NS and the unions today despite ongoing strikes

There have been no talks between the NS and the unions about the ongoing collective bargaining agreement conflict on Tuesday. NS workers in the North West and Eastern parts of the country went on strike on Tuesday to reinforce their demands for higher wages and improved regulations for heavy work. The strike was called by the unions FNV and VVMC.

According to an NS spokesperson, no threats regarding new strikes have come in. No trains have been running in Noord-Holland, Flevoland, Gelderland, and a large part of Overijssel because of the strikes. VVMC said that union officials are on site with striking staff. FNV was unavailable for comment.

It is the fourth time this month that there have been strikes at the NS. Other cases saw strikes being announced and then canceled at the latest possible moment, which also resulted in trains being canceled.

Negotiations took place on Monday, but the FNV said that the NS was not able to “bridge the gap.” FNV chairman Henri Janssen said that more strikes have not been ruled out, including the possibility of national strikes.

NS CEO Wouter Koolmees explained on Monday that he was disappointed about the strikes on Tuesday and the burden that it caused for the passengers. According to the NS, the FNV and VVMC are not interested in negotiating.

Koolmees reported that the NS will now make a final offer so that the unions can then hand this over to their members.

The director for the travelers association Rover, Freek Bos, criticized the strikes on Tuesday, saying that “for such a vital sector, this is too much.” He added that the impact that the strikes have is too significant, especially for people with no alternative means of transport.

Exams and healthcare appointments have been threatened by the strikes, Bos said. He noticed amongst the responses at Rover that the understanding of the strikes amongst the passengers is decreasing. “And also amongst the passengers who support the goal of the strikes.”

Bos also feels that the late cancelations are a part of this. “Causing chaos at the NS is a part of the union’s plans, but passengers are not a plaything against which actions can be announced and canceled," said Bos.

The director has urged the parties to return to negotiations. He has offered his services as a mediator. He also pushed for the unions to make their actions more passenger-friendly.