Union FNV plans mid-june public transport strike over social security cuts

The Netherlands’ largest union, FNV, is planning strikes in public transport around mid-June to protest the cabinet’s social security proposals. The plans include breaking earlier agreements on the AOW state pension, forcing people to work longer—even in physically demanding jobs—shortening unemployment benefits (WW), and worsening disability protections (WIA).

FNV first announced in early March that it was preparing to take action against the plans. Earlier Friday, new FNV chairman Hans Spekman addressed a demonstration against the coalition agreement on Museumplein in Amsterdam. On his first day in the job, he reiterated the union’s demand to remove the proposals from consideration. He said the union’s strike fund is well stocked and that FNV can sustain action “long enough to bring the cabinet to a different insight.”

The union announced that other FNV sectors will take action after the public transport strikes.

In April, FNV Spoor surveyed its members on the government’s social security plans. Ninety-eight percent said they viewed the plans very negatively, and 85 percent said they were willing to take action, the union reported.

FNV Spoor board member Henri Janssen said the proposals would force longer working lives, even in heavy professions, while cutting unemployment benefits and worsening disability protections.

“The cabinet is breaking agreements on the AOW and wants people to work even longer, even in heavy professions. At the same time, the WW is being shortened and the WIA is being worsened. That means less security if you lose your job or become ill. This is pure demolition of social security, and our members won’t stand for it,” Janssen said.

He added: “People who keep public transportation running every day will soon have to work longer and will receive less protection in case of misfortune. That is unnecessary and unfair. If the cabinet does not back down on this, we will show with actions where the limit lies.”

If the cabinet holds to the plans after the summer, FNV does not rule out further escalation in public transport. The exact date of the strike has not been announced.

Dutch railway operator NS said it had no immediate comment. “We must first see what exactly the FNV is planning, because that is not clear yet,” a spokesperson said.

On Friday, May 1, International Workers’ Day, FNV organized a major protest march in Amsterdam that drew an estimated 18,000 participants — the largest turnout for the event in years, according to organizers.

The crowd began gathering at Museumplein in the early afternoon, where punk band Taxitaxi warmed up the audience. New FNV chairman Hans Spekman took the stage shortly after 2 p.m. for his first official appearance in the role. In his speech, Spekman strongly rejected the proposed cuts to unemployment benefits (WW) and disability protections (WIA) in the coalition agreement. “Are we going to allow the WW and WIA to be dismantled?” he asked the crowd, which responded with a loud “No!”

The march then proceeded as a long procession through the De Pijp neighborhood and on to Martin Luther Kingpark in southern Amsterdam, accompanied by drumming, the socialist anthem “The Internationale,” and a wide range of political banners and flags.

Participants included teachers, younger activists carrying communist and Palestinian flags, Greenpeace members, Turkish communist groups, and anarchists from the Vrije Bond campaigning for lower rents and higher wages, Het Parool reported. The event concluded with a festival in the park featuring food trucks and live music.