Substantial cutbacks at NS: 2,300 jobs at risk

In the coming years, 2300 jobs will be at risk at NS. This is stated in future plans that were shared with staff this afternoon. Due to the corona virus and the consequent decrease in the number of travelers, the largest rail transport operator in the Netherlands is faced with savings of 1.4 billion euros.

According to the NS, this concerns jobs in all branches of the company: at the head office, in workshops, the stations and on the trains. The carrier hopes to shrink in particular through natural attrition. For example, in the same period (until 2025) about 2500 employees will retire. All NS employees with a permanent contract may stay, but some may be retrained. In addition, the top of the company contributes 10 percent of the salary.

It is not yet clear exactly how the cutbacks will be implemented, that is still under consideration. The biggest blows seem to fall at headquarters, where 1,000 jobs may be lost. The personnel on the train are also spared: there the NS expects to need between 400 and 500 conductors less in the future. In practice, this probably means that longer trains will have to make do with fewer conductors in the future. The conductor’s role is also changing, says the NS, in a more service-providing position.

Labor unions

Today the austerity plans have been shared with the 20,000 NS employees. They will be developed and presented to the unions in the near future. They gauge whether the members are allowed to discuss the plans with the carrier. From a legal perspective, the NS can also continue the plans without consulting the unions. But they have already indicated that there is a real chance of strikes.

The Union for Driving Personnel (VVMC) does not want to say much about the plans, because they want to present them to the members first. VVMC driver Wim Eilert says: “The fantastic figures that the NS had for the corona crisis were largely due to the staff outside and on the trains. If you want to return to those figures after corona, you will have them people badly needed. NS has to think carefully about that. “

State aid

The Dutch Railways expects to lose nearly 5 billion euros in turnover loss until 2025 as a result of the corona crisis. Now that many people are working from home and the economy seems to be shrinking in the near future, significantly fewer people will be taking the train well into 2021, thinks the NS.

The cabinet previously announced that it would allocate 1.5 billion euros to the entire public transport sector, as compensation for the decline in passenger numbers. But that is not enough for the NS.

In recent months, public transport was only accessible for necessary trips. As of July 1, this rule no longer applies, and everyone is welcome again. The wearing of mouth masks remains mandatory.

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