The 12,000 people employed by regional transport bus and train operators have agreed to a new collective labour agreement (CAO).

Trade unions FNV and CNV have agreed terms with the employers and a planned strike has been called off. A strike on January 4 crippled regional transport in the Netherlands.

The employees have been promised less pressure at work, an 8.3% pay rise over three years and a fixed contact for 1,000 temporary workers, public broadcaster NOS said on Tuesday.

The CNV addded there are also concrete agreements about work rosters so that employees can better combine work with their private life.

Importantly, it was finally agreed to permit the workers a break after 2.5 hours on the job to enable them to use the toilet.  That had been a major sticking point in the negotiations.