NS employees in the Central Netherlands region are staging a 24-hour strike on Friday due to stalled negotiations over a new collective labor agreement, causing widespread disruption to train services across the country. The strike stems from disagreements between the NS management and trade unions regarding wage increases and improved working conditions for employees with heavy and irregular work schedules.

The unions are demanding higher annual wage increases than the NS is offering. The VVMC union is seeking an 8% annual increase, while FNV Spoor is holding out for 7%. The NS has proposed a 5.75% increase over 27 months, equating to an annual increase of 2.55%.

The strike is considered a significant escalation in the negotiation process. Unlike previous instances where strikes began with smaller actions, this strike directly targets the Central Netherlands region, a critical hub for the NS network, effectively paralyzing train traffic nationwide.

Travelers’ organizations have criticized the strike as disproportionate, citing the disruption it will cause to a million train journeys on an average Friday, especially with the upcoming Pentecost holiday. While union leaders acknowledge the inconvenience to travelers, they maintain that the strike is necessary to pressure NS management, claiming strong support from their members who feel the company has been unresponsive.

Experts suggest that strikes are an essential tool for unions to maintain their credibility and bargaining power. The high union membership among NS employees contributes to their influence, allowing them to disrupt train traffic with relatively few people.