Court bans train drivers strike on public safety grounds
A court in Breda has ruled that NS drivers and conductors cannot go on strike on Friday as planned because of the risk to public safety.
It would not be responsible to allow large groups of people to gather at railway stations because the strike stopped them getting to work, the judge said. However, from January 6, when police numbers are back up to strength, the strike can go ahead, court said.
The strike involving workers in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Hoofddorp would have resulted in widespread disruption to the rail network. Dutch railway companies NS and Prorail and the passenger association Rover went to court to have the strike banned.
The VVMC union said that the staff are unhappy with new working conditions issued in September, which mean drivers and conductors can only cover a specific number of journeys in one day, from one location.
The NS has pledged to introduce changes by April.
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