NS makes final pay offer to head off further rail strikes

Dutch railway operator NS has made a “final” offer to railway unions of a 4% pay rise this year and 2.75% in 2026, in an effort to head off further rail strikes.

The previous offer, which the two biggest unions had rejected, was for a 3.25% increase in 2025 and 2.75% the following year.

The state-owned company said it would also improve early retirement arrangements for staff in physically demanding jobs, allowing them to stop work at the age of 64, and introduce a transitional scheme for those who would otherwise miss out.

The unions had called for a 7% rise this year and a further increase in 2026.

“This is our final offer,” NS chief executive Wouter Koolmees said. “We have worked out a balanced deal between what is necessary for our colleagues, for the company and to show responsibility towards our passengers. I hope that we can move forward with this.”

The unions said on Wednesday evening that they would suspend further strike action pending further talks on the final offer.