Bus services further disrupted as transport strike continues

Travelers face a new day of turmoil on Friday as transport workers strike again over a long-running dispute over wages and conditions, RTV Noord reportQbuzz and Arriva have issued warnings that bus services in the state of Groningen will be drastically cut.

This time, rail services will not be affected as rail operator Nederlandse Spurwegen (NS) has agreed a wage agreement with the unions. Train alternative buses between Groningen and Leer are also running as usual.

However, other bus routes in the Groningen area have been significantly reduced, with about half of the routes closed.

Henk Rozema, FNV representative in Groningen and Drenthe, has apologized for the confusion caused by Friday’s strike action, but acknowledged that it may not be the last if negotiations for a new wage agreement do not resolve the dispute. suggested.

Rozema says: We are also standing up for our passengers as unscheduled absences from drivers due to rising sickness have forced us to scale back many services. “

In recent months, there have been many transport strikes in the Netherlands over issues such as wages, including an ongoing bus drivers strike and a strike in NS that ended successfully, amid an ongoing cost of living crisis. And all show concern. Arriva and Qbuzz drivers are covered by a different collective bargaining agreement than their NS colleagues.