Transport strike hits Netherlands

Railways stations were deserted

Trains and buses were at a standstill across the Netherlands on Thursday, as staff went on strike against the government's planned welfare reforms.

The striking workers are objecting to the government's intention to bring in austerity measures to help reduce the cost of the country's ageing population

The stoppage is set to continue until Friday morning, while strikes in other sectors of the economy are planned.

Yet the Dutch government said it would not back down and reform was needed.

With the number of people over 65 in the Netherlands set to double by 2040, the centre-right government insists the welfare state is unsustainable in its current form, and that savings have to be made.

This is a great display of trade union force, unity and power against lousy government policies Lodewijk de Waal, FNV union

Its proposals include raising the retirement age, making earlier retirement harder to achieve, and freezing both civil service salaries and the minimum wage.

Minister of Social Affairs Aart Jan de Geus has described the transport strike as "useless and stupid".

No middle ground

However, it is not just the unions who are angry at the government's plans, and the transport walkout comes two weeks after 250,000 people turned up at a protest rally against the intended reforms.

Lodewijk de Waal, leader of the largest labour union FNV, said the strikes and protests were aimed at keeping the Netherlands "a nice place to live".

"This is a great display of trade union force, unity and power against lousy government policies."

Other workers also now planning for strikes include those in the metal and construction industries, teachers, and even police officers and members of the Dutch army.

"As long as they (the government) won't budge, we'll continue our action," said Mr De Waal.

The public transport strike was expected to cause chaos on the roads on Thursday as more people took to their cars.

Yet motoring associations said there were no serious traffic jams, suggesting that many people had decided to stay at home.