Minister&House Losing Patience w. Dutch Rail
stolen from DND - 25.12.2001 05:07
Minister Warns NS Directors Trains Must Run on Time At Least 80% of The Time
THE HAGUE - In the debate Thursday over Dutch Railways (DR/NS), the parties crossed coalition lines in support of a tougher policy. There were differences between the Labour Party, the Christian Democrats, Green Left and the Socialist Party, on the one hand, and the Liberals and Democrats´66, on the other, over how to deal with senior management at the privatized railway company.
The Labour Party, the Christian Democrats, Green Left and the Socialist Party, all believe the Minister should sack the director of NS, Mr. Hans Huisinga and the rest of the executive board, as well as Mr. Jan Timmer and the rest of the supervisory board, before the end of the year. The House, just as Minister Tineke Netelenbos at Transport and Waterways, is particularly upset over the inability of NS management to get the trains to run on time. At the moment, the trains run on time but 78.5% of the time.
Mrs. Femke Halsema of Green Left wonders why the Minister would even consider keeping the present management because, "they are responsible for delays, because they are the ones who created the conflict with personnel which led to great sick leave".
The spokesman for the Labour Party, Mr. Jeroen Dijsselbloem said, "The problem, of course, with Dutch Railways is labour relations. That does include personnel, but our only approach can be with management". Mr. Camiel Eurlings, spokesman for the Christian Democrats, "It is not acceptable that they fight out their internal conflicts at the cost of personnel".
Mr. J.T. van den Berg of the Constitutional Reform Party (SGP) agrees totally with Mrs. Halsema, "It is incomprehensible to me why management has not already drawn the only correct conclusion from this unbearable situation, and that is to resign".
The coalition Liberal Party and Democrats´66 took a more moderate tone towards NS management. It is not up to the House, they argued, to control NS management, as that is the task of the Minister. The House, therefore, has a responsibility to see to it the Minister has the railways under control.
Mr. Pieter Hofstra of the Liberal Party believes there is one way out of this situation and that is to install an independent commission in order to determine, once and for all, who is responsible for the problems at the NS.
Minister Netelenbos accepted the proposal of Mr. Hofstra when she indicated a study will be made, but only in the spring of 2001. In the meantime, Mrs. Netelenbos partially agrees with the get-tough attitude taken by a majority of the House. Without saying it aloud, but implying as much, Mrs. Netelenbos demanded that if the trains do not run at least 80% of the time in January 2002, "it will have great consequences for the supervisory board". The House, she said, will have to wait and see what kind of consequences she has in mind. "You have sufficient fantasy to imagine what could happen".
The Minister spoke Thursday as if she were just as exasperated with NS management as the House. She referred to a plan presented by NS back in August which promised that trains would run on time at a much higher percentage than was then the case. The Minister says that 80% of the time is not an unrealistic demand. "It is feasible".
The Minister said she will speak with NS management over a bridging contract of six months, or the time prior to new legislation which will give NS a concession to the track in the Netherlands. The new legislation will put, among others, requirements for performance. 21 December 2001
 Website: http://www.dutchnewsdigest.com/showarticle.php3?newsID=9480
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