Nine months after drivers at carrier EBS in Lelystad raised concerns about unsafe buses, trade union FNV has given the company’s management a two-week ultimatum. FNV said a survey of 269 employees in the IJssel-Vecht concession found that 83% of drivers felt they had sufficient room to do their work, while most rated areas under management’s responsibility negatively. One of 260 respondents rated the general condition of the buses as good, and nearly 80% said they had seen no improvement in daily practice. Almost three-quarters reported physical complaints while driving.

The concerns involve first-generation BYD electric buses, which drivers said had problems including vibrating steering, defective heating and a tendency to pull to the right. FNV is calling for buses with serious technical defects or safety risks to be taken out of service immediately, along with more spare buses, better cleaning and an expansion of the control centre. If EBS’s management does not comply, FNV says a strike could take place this month.