The strikes affect approximately 13,000 employees, primarily bus drivers, working for major operators including Arriva, EBS, Qbuzz, Keolis, Transdev, and the regional services of RET. City transport in the three largest urban centers—Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam—is excluded from the action, as is the national railway operator NS, which operates under a separate agreement. The unions have deliberately withheld the exact dates of subsequent strike days until shortly before they occur. CNV negotiator Niels Rook stated that this strategy is designed to prevent employers from “sabotaging the actions by drawing up emergency schedules at the last minute,” ensuring that the disruption coincides with standard staffing levels rather than temporary reinforcements.
The breakdown in negotiations follows eight rounds of talks between the unions and the Association of Public Transport Employers (VWOV). The core of the dispute centers on the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement. The unions are demanding a 6% pay rise from FNV, while CNV is calling for a 9.5% increase over two years. Beyond wages, the unions are pressing for commitments to lower workloads, improved arrangements for older employees, and greater predictability in work schedules. FNV official Marijn van der Gaag emphasized that the current high rates of absenteeism due to illness in the sector make further pressure on employees counterproductive. “Passengers also have an interest in employees being able to do their jobs without harming their health,” Van der Gaag said, arguing that increasing pressure would only make reliable public transport more difficult to achieve.
Employers, represented by VWOV, have expressed disappointment with the industrial action, arguing that they have put forward a “fair proposal” in the negotiations. The association contends that the unions have refused a clear opportunity to resume talks, sticking instead to what VWOV describes as an “extensive package of worsening employment conditions.” From the employer’s perspective, the proposed changes include more flexible working hours, additional unpaid breaks, and a reduction in the notice period for shift rosters. Currently, rosters are fixed approximately eight days in advance; employers aim to cut this to four days or less. VWOV also highlighted the financial challenges facing the public transport sector, warning that strikes would exacerbate existing budgetary issues and inconvenience passengers who have no direct role in the labor dispute.
The unions issued an ultimatum to VWOV earlier this week, which expired without a response from the employers. FNV stated that more than 97% of its members support the strikes, indicating strong internal mandate for the action. The union noted that many members are in favor of taking action to defend their interests against what they perceive as sweeping cuts to their rights. The dispute highlights broader tensions in the labor market regarding work-life balance and the sustainability of public service staffing levels.
As the strike action proceeds on a weekly basis through the holiday season, the focus now turns to whether the consistent disruption will force a return to the negotiating table. The unions have indicated they will announce the next strike days at a later date, maintaining the element of surprise to maximize the impact on service reliability. For commuters and businesses relying on regional transport, the uncertainty of weekly disruptions poses a logistical challenge in the lead-up to the Christmas period. The resolution of this conflict remains dependent on whether the parties can bridge the gap between the unions’ demands for improved working conditions and the employers’ financial and operational constraints.
