Bus and train strikes to hit regional transport weekly until Christmas

Two travelers waiting for a bus that will never come at an Amsterdam Noord bus station during a nationwide public transport strike, 9 September 2026 - Credit: - License: All Rights Reserved Business Friday, 9 October 2026 - 13:06

Bus and train drivers are going to strike for one day a week up to Christmas, the trade unions FNV and CNV have announced. The regional strike comes as a result of the stalled negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. Employees will have their first strike day on Wednesday. Public transport services in Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam are excluded.

The trade unions will announce the next strike days at a later date. By doing this, they are giving the employees no time to prepare. “We will not let employers sabotage the actions by drawing up emergency schedules at the last minute,” said CNV negotiator Niels Rook.

FNV understands that the strike affects passengers. “But passengers also have an interest in employees being able to do their jobs without harming their health. Absenteeism due to illness is already high in regional public transport. Increasing the pressure further will solve nothing and will only make reliable public transport more difficult to achieve,” said Marijn van der Gaag, an FNV official responsible for regional transport.

The strike follows an ultimatum issued by the unions to employers, which went unanswered. The Association of Public Transport Employers (VWOV) had already voiced its disappointment over the planned action, arguing that it had made “a fair proposal” in the negotiations.

The unions disagree, saying employers have refused a clear opportunity to resume negotiations. “They have chosen to stick to their extensive package of worsening employment conditions, leaving us with no alternative but to take action,” Van der Gaag said. The unions want commitments to lower workloads, an arrangement for older employees, and higher wages.

CNV wants the new collective labor agreement to prioritize work-life balance. “We are drawing a line in the sand. Rather than putting even more pressure on work schedules, we want healthier, more socially responsible schedules that offer greater predictability and a better balance between work and private life.”

The collective labor agreement for public transport covers approximately 13,000 employees in urban and regional transport across the Netherlands, primarily bus drivers working for operators such as Arriva, EBS, Qbuzz, and Keolis. The previous agreement expired at the end of June.

Reporting by ANP