Netherlands
On 19 November some 7500 people took part in a demonstration in the Hague as part of a long-running campaign to secure a new collective agreement in the sheltered employment sector. However, the FNV was outraged when 30 protestors were arrested for occupying the VNG local government employers' offices. They were later released but missed the summit meeting between the union, employers and Ministry of Social Affairs.
Read more at > FNV (NL)
And at > FNV (NL)
Over 6,500 people took part in a major event in Den Bosch on 10 December bringing together trade unionists, political activists, the unemployed and workers in the sheltered employment sector. The anti-austerity event also focused in particular on the government plans to cut 70,000 of the 100,000 jobs in the sheltered employment sector. If the government plans are approved by parliament then this would mean many disabled workers being employed on rates below the national minimum wage. [Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)->http://www.abvakabofnv.nl/nieuws/nieuws/armoede-werkt-niet-het-is-nog-niet
Demonstrations in Tilburg and Arnhem on 8 and 10 November have been organized by workers in sheltered employment in support of their claims for a new collective agreement but also in protest at the massive cutbacks across the sector. The VNG local authority employers want to freeze pay while the government is planning to cut 70% of the 100,000 jobs currently available in sheltered employment. Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)