Unions announce train strikes in northern parts of the Netherlands

The Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV) has announced that, on December 15 and 16, drivers and conductors working for Arriva will be holding a strike, affecting train travel in the provinces of Groningen and Friesland. 

Train strikes in Groningen and Friesland on 15 and 16 December

The strike will start in Friesland on Thursday, December 15, affecting public transport services in both of the Netherlands’ northernmost provinces, before workers in Groningen strike on Friday, December 16. 

It is expected that little to no trains will be running as a result of the strikes, with FNV predicting that services between Leeuwarden and Groningen will be severely affected on Thursday. In addition to this week’s strike days, workers along the route between Emmen and Zwolle will be downing tools on Monday, December 19. 

Workers reject Arriva’s offer of 5 percent wage increase 

While the strikes over at Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) have come to an end, workers at Arriva continue to fight for a 10 percent increase in salaries and a reduction in workloads. So far, Dutch trade unions have rejected Arriva’s offer of a 5 percent wage increase. 

"The willingness to take action is high,” FNV director Edwin Kuiper told RTV Noord. "The staff is not satisfied with the 5 percent wage increase that the employers are proposing. That is actually a big middle finger to train drivers, stewards and unions.”

Talking to the ANP, a spokesperson for Arriva said the company was disappointed that negotiations were being cut short by the imminent strikes: “We hope to be able to sit around the table again soon in one way or another.”