Dagblad van het Noorden reports that the majority of busses and regional trains are unlikely to be running on Thursday and Friday, due to a planned strike. NS trains will run on a normal schedule, and public transport in the Randstad (Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague) will also be running.
The ongoing talks with Arriva, the main transportation company in the north, have focused on a pay raise for employees in light of inflation. The unions are also calling for a more manageable work load for employees (and in turn decreased sick leave).
Regional public transport providers in the north include Arriva trains in Groningen, Drenthe and Friesland (as well as buses), and QBuzz buses in Groningen and Drenthe.
According to Omrop Fryslan, FNV (Federal Dutch Labour Movement), the biggest union for bus drivers and train employees, is calling on their members to strike for the next two days. Another transport employee union, CNV (Christian National Union), has released a statement declaring their solidarity with FNV, but are presently not planning to strike themselves.
Strikes have been a regular occurrence in the public transport sector in recent months, including in September and October which brought public transport nationwide to a standstill. The protests are prompted by the ongoing efforts by the unions to improve the collective labour agreements for their members.
In addition to public transport employees, FNV (founded in 1976) also represents professionals working in a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, security, construction, finance, IT, youth care and media, among others.
