Public transport in the Netherlands is set to be disrupted on September 11 as unions have announced a strike in support of an early retirement scheme for workers in physically demanding jobs. The strike, organized by union FNV, will see local bus drivers joining NS (Dutch Railways) staff in their protest, which is scheduled to halt services from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. on that day.

The strike is in response to the impending expiration of legislation that allows employers to receive tax breaks for paying pensions to workers who retire before the official retirement age of 67. As no new scheme has been introduced to replace the current one, unions are pushing for its extension. FNV argues that public transport workers, who face not only physical strain but also significant mental stress, should be included in any future retirement provisions.

While trains and local buses will be affected by the strike during the early morning hours on September 11, public transport in major cities like Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam will remain operational during that time. However, brief stoppages on September 10 are expected to cause delays.

The strike action is part of a broader wave of industrial actions planned for the second week of September, with workers in the cleaning, construction, and engineering sectors also set to strike in support of early retirement options.

Political support for extending the early retirement scheme is divided. MPs from the GroenLinks-PvdA alliance and the Socialist Party (SP) have urged the government to prolong the legislation, while coalition parties BBB and NSC have expressed their backing for the measures. However, the right-wing Liberal VVD and the far-right PVV have yet to clarify their stance.

In a related development, police unions have already taken industrial action at football matches to demand early retirement benefits. Social Affairs Minister Eddy van Hijum (NSC) has acknowledged the concerns and stated that an extension of the legislation is still under consideration, though no final decision has been made.