Dutch railway employees are striking for 24 hours, primarily in the Central Netherlands region, due to a breakdown in negotiations over a new collective labor agreement (cao). The strike, planned for Friday, is expected to severely disrupt train traffic nationwide.

The primary point of contention is wage increases. Unions are demanding higher annual salary increases than the 2.55 percent offered by NS over a 27-month period. VVMC, the largest union, seeks an 8 percent annual increase, while FNV Spoor is advocating for 7 percent.

Beyond wages, unions are also pushing for improved terms for employees engaged in heavy and irregular work. They aim to address existing disparities in benefits, such as retirement age and eligibility for night shift exemptions, among different NS employee groups.

While the strike is geographically limited, its impact is anticipated to be widespread because Central Netherlands is a crucial hub for the NS network. The region handles a significant portion of train traffic and houses key planning staff, making the strike particularly disruptive.

The escalation to a strike in Central Netherlands is considered unusually swift. Traditionally, railway sector negotiations involve a gradual increase in pressure, starting with smaller-scale, regional strikes before targeting the core of the network. This direct action has drawn criticism from passenger organizations like Rover, who argue that there are less disruptive ways to pressure management.

Unions defend their actions by stating that their members are demanding a stronger stance. They emphasize that the NS has been unresponsive during negotiations and that the willingness to strike is high among employees, despite the potential for public criticism.

Labor law experts like Paul de Beer view strikes as a necessary component of collective bargaining. He argues that credible strike threats are essential for unions to be taken seriously and that occasional strikes are unavoidable to maintain bargaining power.