Unions suspend strikes after NS final offer, no actions in coming weeks

The wage offer is higher than the offer from last Friday, says NS. Instead of an increase of 3.25 percent as of March 2025, there is now an offer of 4 percent for the first year and 2.75 percent for the second. "That is an increase of 6.75 percent over the term of the collective labor agreement and an average increase of 3.4 percent per year," says the transport company.

NS also proposes an improved scheme for heavy work. "Colleagues who have worked under aggravating circumstances can choose to stop working up to three years earlier." Those who stop earlier and have been employed for 30 years or more will receive a maximum bridging payment as standard.

Extreme proposal

According to NS spokesman Erik Kroeze, this is an 'extreme proposal' that the unions can submit to their members for approval. In other words, the railway company cannot go any further than this.

Trade unions VVMC, FNV and CNV have been campaigning since last week for a new collective labour agreement for some 17,500 employees of the railway company. They want a wage increase 'that covers inflation'. But the offer from NS has so far been stuck at 3.25 percent for this year, and 2.75 percent for March 2026.

CNV temporarily suspends actions

Trade union CNV has announced that it will present the offer to its members 'in the coming weeks'. "In the meantime, we are suspending our actions," says CNV negotiator Henk Jongsma. According to the union, a number of important improvements have been made, for example when it comes to fixed days off and consultation on the schedule.

VVMC is also suspending actions and will submit the NS's final collective labor agreement offer to its members, reports chairman Wim Eilert of the largest rail union. According to the union, this will take at least two weeks.

The strikes are causing dissatisfaction among NS CEO Wouter Koolmees:

The FNV trade union does the same, but says it is 'disappointed' in the NS offer. "During that time, the strikes will be suspended, but the ultimatum remains in full force," the union said in a written response. If the union members reject the offer, then actions can still follow. According to the union, the consultation with the members must take place in 'the coming weeks' and there will be no strike during that time.

No perspective

According to FNV director Henri Janssen, the final offer is disappointing on several fronts: "Not only in terms of wage demands, but also in terms of early retirement for people with heavy work. NS offers no prospects for colleagues who now have to continue working in shifts at night until they retire."

The wage offer has been improved, but according to the union it is only a one-off small compensation and there is no prospect of structural price compensation with regard to inflation. If the NS would come up with that, striking would no longer be necessary, according to FNV.

To lose

The NS is struggling with losses and this year it raised the prices of train tickets to compensate for this. The government stepped in, but also announced that it would not do so again next year. Without measures, the rates are expected to rise by around 12 percent next year.

In short, the company cannot use higher wages, but according to the unions, there should be no cuts in public transport or personnel. Those who take good care of their people also ensure a reliable timetable, which in turn is good for the traveller - the biggest victim of all strikes.