Netherlands: FNV union organizes “free public transportation” operation to send a message on the pension reform

The two biggest FNV unions, Abvakabo (civil servants) and FNV and Allies (manufacturing) wanted to raise the public’s awareness regarding the reform of retirement age, discussed on January 20 at the Parliament. The social partners should give an opinion in front of a Parliamentary committee on the extension of retirement age from 65 to 67 in 2020. The FNV, opposed to the project at first, finally came around in December (see our dispatch No. 091159). The union wanted to express its point of view outside rush hours, not blocking passengers with a usual strike. In Rotterdam and The Hague, public transportation firms agreed but the GVB in Amsterdam and GVU in Utrecht went to court on January 19 to prevent the operation. The judge thought that the trade unions’ problem wasn’t with employers but with the government and that it was therefore inappropriate to involve public transportation in their action. The FNV lodged an appeal to this verdict, which restricted its campaign to Rotterdam and Utrecht.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

n Utrecht went to court on January 19 to prevent the operation. The judge thought that the trade unions’ problem wasn’t with employers but with the government and that it was therefore inappropriate to involve public transportation in their action. The FNV lodged an appeal to this verdict, which restricted its campaign to Rotterdam and Utrecht.

Planet Labor, January 21, 2010, No. 100057 – www.planetlabor.com

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
France: CMA-CGM seeks to adapt professional equality to seafaring roles
The news. On 23 March 2026, the shipowner CMA-CGM (17,600 employees in France) and the CFDT, CFE-CGC, and FO unions signed a gender equality agreement for the 2026-2030 period, as identified by...
Germany: crisis and transformation wage agreement in the chemical sector
Following a two-day marathon negotiation in Bad Breisig (Western Germany), the social partners of the German chemical and pharmaceutical industries—the IG BCE trade union and the BAVC employers'...
27 March 2026
Malta: a draft amendment to better protect against workplace harassment
The news. On 23 February 2026, the Maltese government introduced a draft amendment to the Employment and Industrial Relations Act, seeking to expand the scope of protection against workplace...
Italy: parental leave extended until the child’s 14th birthday
The 2026 Italian Finance Act has extended optional parental leave, which can now be taken until the child is 14 years old, up from 12 previously. This leave has a maximum duration of 10 or 11...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Netherlands: new government seeks to “control” social costs
In his government policy statement to Parliament on 25 February, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten announced several measures designed to "control" social costs. Notably, he proposed raising the...
2
Spain: a bill to regulate internships
On 3 March, the Council of Ministers approved the bill on the “Status for persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies”. The text limits the number of interns a company can...
3
Germany: launch of the “WE-Fair” alliance for binational training of skilled foreign workers
Germany continues to expand and diversify its initiatives to attract skilled foreign labour from outside the EU. In mid-March 2026, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development...
4
EU: co-legislators aim to pivot European Globalisation Adjustment Fund towards restructuring anticipation
On 25 February, the Council of the EU and the Parliament reached an agreement on the Commission’s proposed regulation to expand the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF). Under the...
5
Block to slash workforce by nearly half
The news. In his latest shareholder letter, Jack Dorsey, CEO of payment service provider Block (formerly Square), announced plans to slash the company’s workforce “by nearly half, from...