Why will public transport across the Netherlands stop on Wednesday? ‘Our social safety net must not be hollowed out’

The Netherlands is heading for a nationwide public-transport shutdown as unions intensify their campaign against the government’s planned 6.5 billion euros in social-security cuts.

Workers at Heineken, ProRail, construction companies and hospitals have been striking at different times since the beginning of the month. The campaign is due to continue through September 14. On Tuesday, unions will hold a national day of action at the Malieveld in The Hague. The following Wednesday, September 9, public transport is expected to stop for 24 hours across the country.

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We see that the government is moving, and that shows that taking action works.

No trains, buses, metros or trams will run. Ferries on routes including the North Sea Canal and Amsterdam’s IJ will also remain docked. Workers in ports, metal companies, municipalities, provinces, water authorities and safety regions are taking action as well.

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A year’s delay does not change the principle that our social safety net must not be hollowed out.

The unions say the social-security system needs improvement, as does the government, but argue that cutting benefits will not solve the problem. FNV vice-chair Nine Kooiman said people need help returning to work rather than reductions in support. “To keep the economy stable, you need a social safety net. We must strengthen that safety net and create more opportunities to guide people from one job to another.”

The government recently withdrew some proposed cuts and delayed others, briefly raising questions about whether the strikes would go ahead. The unions decided to continue. FNV chair Hans Spekman said the government’s movement showed that taking action worked. CNV chair Hans van den Heuvel said, “A year’s delay does not change the principle that our social safety net must not be hollowed out.” The dispute comes just before Prinsjesdag, when the cabinet will submit next year’s budget.

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To keep the economy stable, you need a social safety net. We must strengthen that safety net and create more opportunities to guide people from one job to another.