Thousands quit working as part of public transport strike; Politicians visit strikers

Several thousand workers laid down their work in public transport today, the trade union FNV said. The trade unions organized a national strike against the Cabinet’s plans to cut certain social security budgets. The figure is an initial estimate from the Netherlands’ largest trade union. Other unions, including CNV, are also participating.

There are hardly any trains running due to the 24-hour strike. The NS stations were empty on Wednesday morning. Some areas also have no buses, trams or subways, like in The Hague, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. Transport company Arriva tried to perform its services as normally as possible, but is also having to cancel a lot of buses.

The public transport strike is one of the trade unions’ actions against the social security cuts. The unions want the announced cuts to be completely abolished. There are also strikes at metal and construction companies this week. Harbor and port workers had already gone on strike.

Travel organization Rover has criticized the strikes. “The current strike has a purpose. The trade unions are trying to stand up for vulnerable people who are affected by the cuts,” said the organization’s director Daan Zieren to NOS. “But especially the vulnerable are isolated further by the mobility that is taken away from them today. That is why we are pleading for different ways of taking action.”

D66 parliamentary group leader Jan Paternotte and Jesse Klaver of Pro spoke with drivers and other public transport workers on strike in The Hague. Other politicians were also present, with SP member of parliament Sandra Beckerman shouting to the strikers that “only one solution is possible: strike strike strike!”

Paternotte said that he was disappointed with the plans to strike. “Watch for our plans to be released on Budget Day, then you can go on strike. But alright, it has happened today,” he said to NOS. Klaver, the leader of the largest opposition party, said he understands the strike. “The social security cuts need to be scrapped. It is currently at a standstill in The Hague, but I hope that the Cabinet chooses a direction.”