Massive support for petition to stop cuts in care

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)->http://www.abvakabofnv.nl/nieuws/nieuws/thuiszorgers-zeggen

The three public service federations - Fp Cgil, Cisl Fp and Uil Fpl - reported fantastic levels of support for the national strike in the private health care sector. In many facilities all workers not providing minimum services joined the strike action. This shows the level of determination of workers to secure the first new collective agreement for 14 years. The Aris and Aiop employer organisations refused to ratify the agreement in June after three years of negotiations and after initially indicated their backing for the deal. The negotiations cover around 100000 workers.