The tenth round of negotiations between NS and the trade unions has once again broken down. On RTL Z News, our Managing Director, Tim Masselink, offered his perspective from a negotiation standpoint. He emphasized that passengers only see the strikes—not the five months of negotiations that preceded them.

Striking as the “nuclear option”

Strikes are often used to exert maximum pressure, but they have a significant impact on public opinion. Each strike slightly erodes public sympathy, especially when they happen frequently and increasingly inconvenience travelers. At the same time, unions see opportunities: if striking yields results, the temptation to use it more often grows.

Risky territory

However, Tim warns against that pattern. If giving in proves effective, striking could become the new norm in collective labor agreement negotiations. He therefore advocates for alternatives that cause less disruption to passengers, such as not checking tickets. He also points to a broader trend: strikes often occur in a particular economic climate and reflect the social mood.

Want to see more? Watch the full episode here.