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Friday: Cold and sunny everywhere. Heavy frost at night. Similar Saturday but thaw possible Sunday
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Public transport strike set for WednesdayMonday 05 October 2009 A public transport strike in Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam in protest at the cabinet’s plan to raise the state pension age from 65 to 67 has been announced by public sector trade union AbvoKabo, report various media on Monday. The bus, tram and metro companies in the three cities are trying to prevent Wednesday's strike though legal action which they describe as ‘out of proportion’ and ‘totally unjustified’ according to the Telegraaaf. ‘The raising of the pension age is not government, not company policy,’ a spokesman for the Amsterdam public transport firm GVB is quoted by the paper as saying. Passengers association Rover has called the strike plans ‘terribly anti-social’ and is considering joining the transport firms in their legal action against the action, reports the Telegraaf. According to the Volkskrant the strike will start early and last until 8.35am. The legal action to ban the strike is due to be heard by a court in Amsterdam at 10am on Tuesday, the paper says.
Negotiations between the unions and employers to come up with an alternative to the cabinet’s plans failed last week. The cabinet is expected to present draft legislation for the increase in state pension age, including details of the time frame for the change, this month. Meanwhile Trouw reports that Agnes Jongerius, chairwoman of the FNV trade union federation does not rule out forming a ‘devil’s pact’ with the anti-immigration PVV party of Geert Wilders which is fiercely against the raising of the state pension age. ‘Call it opportunism but every bit of support counts,’ she is quoted as saying. © DutchNews.nl
well i dont like strikes, as this will bring discomfort to people but "out of proportion"? well if people dont strike for these issues for what should they strike then? By kos | October 5, 2009 1:18 PM Well, still trying to fight off the inevitable! Working ages and working hours have to rise in order to sustain the system and to survive. The EU and it's countries should have implemented this gradually over time. One more thing that was ignored and now is blowing up in their face! By me | October 5, 2009 4:41 PM According to me this strike is justified. There needs to be someone making a noise about these issues. Btw, people in Holland are used to be accepting what their politicians dictate. These are the chancess when they can speak their heart out. It will give a message that if any aprty taht supports these kind of legislations is not gonna have public support. By Dhaval Zaveri | October 5, 2009 5:15 PM They shouldn't go on strike, there should be a MASS DEMONSTRATION at the dam outside the palace (A'dam.) This would get better media coverage... By stevie | October 5, 2009 10:33 PM The thing is why is such a big deal two more years of working? They didn't think well the first time so now there is not enough people to work for the elderly and they did work for their own elders. By Abraham | October 5, 2009 11:59 PM I did not think the Dutch knew how to protest anything, thank God I was wrong. Does anyone know when the ex-cabinet members get their pension...bet it's not 67 By alanposting | October 6, 2009 12:21 AM @abraham and me. By kos | October 6, 2009 9:10 AM Sheesh haven't they done striking enough? I swear there was an entire 6 month period where I was never sure if a bus would come get me.. it was very annoying and made me never want to use public transport again! I don't see how this strike will accomplish what they want anyway... By Laura | October 6, 2009 10:57 AM I have more to add since reading the comments. I agree it's right to protest the increase but this isn't the way to do it. The people who have a say in it are not taking public transport most likely. This will only punish those who are on the same side as the strikers and not right. Find another way to protest. I disagree with the increase in retirement age. I think the best solution is to encourage the birth of more children therefore more tax payers and more to take over jobs in the future. Offer bonuses to families to have more than 1 child! We have 2 kids. We say no to anymore because we think financially this is what we can handle. I would definitely consider another if it was encouraged in a financial way. By Laura | October 6, 2009 11:00 AM
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Rover has called the strike plans ‘terribly anti-social’
The strikes are not anti-social, unless striking in Holland equates to violent behaviour. Nor are these unsociable.
At least some people are shouting about it. I catch the metro to work, but I support them.
By Bob | October 5, 2009 12:53 PM