RET cancels all buses on 14 October as regional bus drivers strike
Rotterdam's RET will run no buses on Wednesday during the regional transport strike, while metros, trams and trains keep to their timetables.
Rotterdam transport company RET will not run any buses on Wednesday 14 October, including neighbourhood buses (buurtbussen), because of a strike by regional bus drivers. Metros and trams run according to the timetable.
Why it matters
- The strike affects buses of Arriva, Connexxion, EBS, Hermes, Keolis, RET streekvervoer and Qbuzz.
- City transport in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Den Haag keeps running.
- Trains are not affected, and replacement buses for trains keep running.
- RET's journey planner may not show the strike immediately; it will be updated in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday.
The strike stems from stalled talks on a collective labour agreement (cao) for regional transport. A large share of RET drivers fall under this agreement. About 13,000 people are expected to take part, mostly bus drivers but also office staff.
RET said some of its Rotterdam drivers are covered by a different agreement, but "all services and vehicles are so closely intertwined that you cannot run only some of the buses". That is why it cancelled every bus.
The unions want a pay rise of 9.5% over two years and better rosters. Niels Rook of the union CNV said: "We are drawing a clear line now. We don't want even more pressure on rosters, but healthier, social rosters instead, with more regularity and a better work-life balance."
Follow the story: CNV
cao (collectieve arbeidsovereenkomst)
A cao is a collective labour agreement: a contract negotiated between employers and trade unions that sets pay, working hours and other conditions for a whole sector or group of companies. In the article, the regional transport cao covers many RET drivers, so the strike is about the terms of that agreement, not about one company's contract. Because it applies to everyone in the sector, a cao affects most employees in the Netherlands, and its renewal is often a matter of public debate.
CNV (Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond)
CNV is the Christian National Trade Union Federation, one of the trade union federations in the Netherlands. It negotiates collective labour agreements (cao's) with employers on behalf of its members, covering pay, working time and conditions. In the article, CNV's Niels Rook is speaking for the unions in the regional transport talks.