Indefinite bus strike begins
Regional bus drivers went on indefinite strike on Monday in support of their pay claim, bringing warnings of severe congestion on some roads.
The strike means that no buses are operating in most of the country, with the exception of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Dordrecht and parts of Gelderland, Limburg and Friesland, where drivers fall under another pay deal.
‘We have no choice,’ FNV union negotiator Janny Koppens told the NRC. ‘After three months of talks, management have not made a step in our direction. We have tried all sorts of passenger-friendly action, such as letting them travel free, but it has not helped.’
Bus drivers are campaigning for a 3.5% pay rise and longer paid breaks. Employers have offered 12% over three years and an extra month’s salary. In return, drivers would no longer be paid for a 15-minute break and would lose some days off.
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