The Netherlands’ biggest rail union, VVMC, says it now plans to strike throughout the central urban Randstad region on Tuesday, in addition to the strike announced earlier in Zuid-Holland, Zeeland and parts of West-Brabant.

Dutch railway company NS “has not taken a single step towards better pay and working conditions,” the union said in a statement on Sunday.

The railway network ground to a virtual halt on Friday because of a strike in the Utrecht region, the centre of the railway network. The lack of response to the strike by state-owned NS is reason enough to “stop work again,” the union said.

“We are asking travellers for their understanding and calling on the NS to come up with a serious and fair proposal,” union official Wim Eilert told broadcaster NOS. More strikes are also planned for the coming weeks.

The strike affects office and station staff as well as train conductors, the union said.

NS has offered an annual pay rise of 2.55%, but the unions say this is insufficient. They are seeking a higher increase to offset inflation and better working conditions for staff working irregular hours. They also want the introduction of an early retirement scheme for people doing heavy physical labour.

Regional services offered by Arriva and others will not be affected, nor will international trains.