The NS (Dutch Railways) is meeting the unions with a new final offer. With this, the company wants to end the collective labor agreement conflict. Both parties have been at odds for months about wages and other terms of employment.
The NS is making, among other things, a better wage offer. There should also be an improved and structural arrangement for staff with heavy occupations who want to stop working earlier.
The railway company is increasing the last wage offer from Friday. The proposal was an increase of 3.25 percent per March 1, 2025. That will be 4 percent.
On March 1, 2026, 2.75 percent will be added. This 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.
After 4.5 months of negotiations, the unions and the NS still do not agree on a new collective labor agreement. The NS staff has proceeded to strikes and actions.
“That we are now making a final offer is unavoidable. Our colleagues make the difference for the traveler every day. They deserve a collective labor agreement that pays attention to the circumstances they face,” says President-Director Wouter Koolmees of the NS.
“They are entitled to a real wage increase. In this final offer, we have sought a balance between what is necessary for our colleagues, what is possible for the company and what I can justify to our travelers. I hope that we can move forward together in this way.”