A regional public transport strike disrupted bus and train services across most of the Netherlands on Wednesday, as workers walked out over stalled labor negotiations. Trade unions FNV and CNV announced the action, the first in a series of weekly strikes planned until Christmas, after talks for a new collective bargaining agreement collapsed. The old agreement expired on July 1.

Buses and regional trains operated by Arriva, EBS, Qbuzz, Keolis, and Transdev were severely affected, with no trains running in Limburg and only 15 percent of buses operating in Noord-Brabant, according to Arriva. EBS warned of “significant service cancellations or delays,” while RET in Rotterdam halted all bus services, though trams and metros continued as usual. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague saw normal bus schedules, as their operators are not part of the regional agreement.

The unions demand a 9.5 percent wage increase over two years, socially responsible schedules, fully paid parental leave for nine weeks, and a tax-efficient student debt repayment scheme. A Keolis spokesperson told RTL Nieuws that not all workers joined the strike, adding, “Not everyone wants to strike.” The companies had been unable to predict the full impact ahead of Wednesday, as participation varied by region and operator.