The willingness to take action among employees to maintain the heavy work scheme, which ensures that people with physically demanding work can stop working earlier, is growing rapidly.
After the announcement of strikes in the urban transport of The Hague (HTM), Rotterdam (RET) and Amsterdam (GVB) on September 10, other government sectors also declare their solidarity with these actions. This means that the impact on citizens' daily lives will soon be felt, with strikes planned in various sectors across the country.
The strike in urban transport on September 10 marks the start of a week full of actions. From 04:00 AM to 08:00 AM, buses, trams and metros will stop in the three major cities. Eric Vermeulen, director of FNV Stadstransport, emphasizes that employees in this sector were ready for action from the start. “They realize better than anyone how important a better and permanent heavy work arrangement is for their health and future. If you have a demanding job, you should simply be able to stop working earlier,” says Vermeulen.
heavy work arrangement
The willingness to take action is not only growing within urban transport; Employees from other government sectors are also showing their support. “People will also be present at our action from sectors such as municipal cleaning and water companies,” says Vermeulen. This solidarity underlines the importance of a structural improvement of the heavy work regulations for the entire public sector. According to Vermeulen, it cannot be ruled out that actions will soon follow in other sectors.
The heavy work scheme is vital for people with physically demanding professions, such as drivers and machinists, because it allows them to retire earlier. Despite recent statements by the minister, who expects a solution to be found when the fiscal relaxation of the scheme expires, the willingness to strike is increasing. Vermeulen makes it clear that the city transport's actions are the first that will really inconvenience the public, but emphasizes that it is necessary. “A better and permanent heavy work arrangement is a matter of justice and safety for all these employees.”
On September 11, a day after the strike in urban transport, employees of the Dutch Railways (NS) and regional transport will also put down the work, again between 04:00 AM and 08:00 AM. The FNV emphasizes that agreements have been made in the pension agreement about a good solution for heavy work, and continues to insist on a permanent and improved scheme.
The situation at the NS is dire. The Dutch Trade Union Federation (FNV) has officially announced that NS employees will strike on September 11. This strike is a direct result of growing dissatisfaction among employees about the current heavy work arrangement, which expires in 2025. Karel de Buijzer, director at the FNV, speaks of a “double irregularity” that the staff has to deal with: irregular schedules that often change and physically demanding work. “You can't keep that up until you're 68,” says De Buijzer. The double burden of physical exertion and mental stress makes the situation untenable for many NS employees.
more actions
The call to action is widely supported among NS employees. More and more employees are signing up to coordinate the strike on September 11. The signal is clear: the employees are determined to enforce a permanent and improved heavy work arrangement. They want to ensure that those who have worked hard for years have the opportunity to retire early and thus safeguard their health and well-being.
The work stoppage at the NS is part of a broader wave of actions planned in the week before Budget Day. For example, a strike in the cleaning industry is scheduled for September 9, followed by a work stoppage in urban transport on September 10. In addition to the NS, employees in the construction and metal sectors will also stop work on September 11. These coordinated actions are intended to increase pressure on employers and the government and make it clear that current arrangements are not sufficient to alleviate workload and insecurity in many sectors.
