The all-out strike by regional bus drivers, scheduled to start on Monday has been postponed to Wednesday, trade unions said on Thursday.

The two-day delay is to open the door to a potential settlement, the unions said. ‘It may be an idle hope, but let us see,’ the CNV trade union said in a press release.

‘The employers are beginning to move, because of the pressure of the strike and there is a way in for further talks,’ FNV negotiator Paula Verhoef said in a statement.

Breaks

Talks on a new pay and conditions deal for 12,000 public transport workers have been stalled for months. The unions are demanding less pressure of work and a 3.5% pay rise while employers have offered a 2% increase and no agreement on working conditions.

The employers say the unions call for an extra five minute break per 150 minutes on shift will lead to a 5% increase in costs. ‘And then the pay rise comes on top of that,’ a spokesman told broadcaster NOS last month.