Unions disagree over care deal
The FNV Abvakabo public services union has refused to endorse a new agreement in the care sector because it says that it involves widespread cuts to services and the loss of up to 50000 jobs. The union says that it came up with many proposals for savings in administration and top salaries but these were rejected. The CNV Publieke Zaak public services union decided to sign the agreement arguing that it involved much fewer job cuts than the government had initially proposed and that the alternative would have been much worse for the sector. Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL) And at > CNV Publieke Zaak (NL)
Unions and employers reach social accord with government
Union members in the main confederations have backed a social accord between employers, unions and government that reverses some government proposals to cut spending. Plans to reduce unemployment benefit and reduce employment protection have been shelved while a €4.3 billion package of tax increases and spending cuts has been delayed, with a further decision due in the autumn. The agreement also includes initiatives on jobs and employment security. Read more at > Financial Times (EN) And at > FNV (NL) And at > CNV (NL)
New agreement for staff in primary care
The FNV Abvakabo and CNV Publieke Zaak public service unions have negotiated a new agreement covering staff employed in primary care. The agreement runs from 1 January to 31 December 2013 and includes a general pay increase of 1.75% (inflation in the year to March was 2.9%). It also clarifies responsibilities on training and that any mandatory training should be paid for by the employer and carried out in work time. Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL) And at > CNV Publieke Zaak (NL)
Ambulance workers’ action continues
Ambulance workers have rejected a "final" offer from employers with their union, FNV Abvakabo, making clear that the proposed agreement would involve a deterioration of employment conditions, particularly for paramedics. Workers had already begun a campaign of industrial action involving working to rule and this will continue. Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)
Home care workers protest over massive cuts
Over 6000 home care workers joined a demonstration in the Hague and formed the number 100000 to indicate the jobs at threat from government proposed cuts to the sector. The FNV Abvakabo trade union was very pleased at the turn out noting that this is a sector where many carers work alone and so is often a challenge to organise. The protesters delivered a petition signed by 137000 people rejecting the cuts which amount to €1.1 billion, effectively 75% of what local authorities spend on home care. Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)
Ambulance workers take action
Ambulance workers in different regions are taking action in support of demands for an improved collective agreement. The action involves planned patient transport and not emergency calls and will mean workers taking more time over their duties rather than rushing to deal with their excessive workloads. High workloads mean that they are often under pressure to break rules and guidelines. A survey of members showed overwhelming dissatisfaction with the employers’ offer in relation to pay, job security, flexible schedules and job evaluation. Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)
Unions put forward key demands in mental health sector
The four unions negotiating for employees in the mental health sector, FNV Abvakabo, CNV Publieke Zaak, NU’91 and FBZ, have put forward their main demands to the GGZ employers’ organisation. The collective agreement expired on 1 January 2013 and the unions are looking for an overall pay bill increase of 3% with 2.5% specifically for wages. The unions underline the urgent need to tackle recruitment challenges and make the sector more attractive to younger workers while also trying to retain older staff. This includes initiatives to reduce excessive workloads and stress. Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)
Water workers try flash action over collective agreement
Hundreds of employees of water companies joined a flash action January 17 in defence of decent pay in the sector. The workers are calling for salary guarantees to continue to apply in any new collective agreement. Three quarters of employees have a certain salary guarantee, which comes from previous wage agreements with regional water companies. Around 5,000 water workers have been without a collective agreement since August and are concerned that they will lose out in a new agreement which could mean a reduction of income of on average €550. Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)
Government rejects job security agreement
The government has refused to sign a job security agreement covering central government workers. The unions will take the matter to arbitration and in the meantime will try to secure agreements at ministry level in order to provide protection for their members. The government is also taking a hard line on pay, saying it wants another two years of pay freeze on top of the two-year freeze in 2011 and 2012. Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL) And at > CNV Publieke Zaak (NL)
Confederation aims for 2.5% increase
The FNV confederation has agreed a guideline of a pay increase of 2.5% for the next round of negotiations, aiming to keep pay just ahead of inflation which is forecast at 2%. A key element of the bargaining round will be decent work and ensuring equal pay for equal work, with an aim to reduce to use of temporary contracts and agency workers. Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)
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