Planned strike to disrupt Dutch public transport on June 24

Dutch trade unions FNV and CNV have announced a nationwide public transport strike for June 24. The unions are demanding that the government scrap cuts to social security and plans to increase the state pension age.

Public transport strike planned for the Netherlands in June

Trains, buses, trams and metros across the Netherlands will not start running until 8am on June 24 as public transport employees take part in a work stoppage. Unions previously threatened strikes if the government failed to halt plans to cut unemployment benefits (WW) and disability benefits (WIA), as well as those to increase the age at which the state pension (AOW) is received.

Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Hans Vijlbrief promised to present a proposal within a few weeks and to do his “very best” to meet the deadline of May 25. “If the Jetten cabinet continues with the dismantling of social security, strikes are inevitable. This is a clear warning: the measures must be taken off the table. If that does not happen, actions will follow,” FNV board member Edwin Kuiper said in a press release. 

Unions put pressure on Dutch government to scrap benefit cuts

As part of the coalition agreement, the government plans to reduce the unemployment benefit from two years to a maximum of one year, cut spending for disability benefits and raise the state pension age in line with life expectancy. Union members have said that these plans fall “unilaterally on workers, pensioners and benefit recipients”.

If the government fails to meet the trade unions' demands, the first strike will be in public transport on June 24. “The cabinet refuses to listen to the concerns of workers. Our members see no other option left but to strike,” said Kuiper. “We are doing this not only for public transport employees, but for all Dutch people who depend on good social security.”

Further strikes have not been ruled out. "If we are still in this position after the summer, larger actions will follow," said Kuiper. "Then you really have to think of 24-hour strikes, so in that respect, this is a first pinprick."