Dutch Unions Call 24-Hour Public Transport Strike for September 9

Public transport workers in the Netherlands will stage a 24‑hour strike on Wednesday, 9 September, halting buses, trains, trams and metro services. The strike is organized by the three major unions FNV, CNV and VCP, with FNV leading the action to protest the government’s social‑welfare reform programme that seeks €6.5 billion in savings.

Unions demand the cabinet abandon planned cuts to unemployment benefits and long‑term disability schemes, and they criticize the recent decision by Social Affairs Minister Hans Vijlbrief to scrap a faster increase in the statutory retirement age. Union leader Henri Janssen said the strike is meant to protect the social safety net for millions of workers.

National rail operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) and other transport companies have warned of severe disruption, while the broader labour movement – including workers in ports, waste management, cleaning and metal industries – has pledged solidarity, underscoring the strike’s significance for the future of Dutch social security.