Trade unions in local government have given the VNG employers' organisation until 10am on 1 May to respond to their main demands or face action across the sector which employers 160000 workers. After six rounds of bargaining, trade unions broke off negotiations as the VNG failed to come up with any offer close to the unions' demands which include a real pay increase and measures to address workers' health and wellbeing, especially older workers.
Unions set deadline for municipal employers
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Municipal unions consider action as employers miss deadline
The FNV and other local government unions are considering strike action in order to put pressure on the VNG employers' organisation which failed to respond to the unions' 1 May deadline for a better collective bargaining offer. The unions are angry that the latest pay offer was, in fact, worse than a previous offer and that the VNG is still not proposing an increase that will ensure wages rise above the current 3% inflation level. The employers have also failed to budge on negotiating a health and wellness policy that would particularly benefit older workers.
Union sets deadline for local government employers
The FNV Abvakabo trade union has called on local government employers to respond to its claims by 13th February. The union wants a job security agreement, a pay increase to protect purchasing power and more investment in permanent staff rather than temporary workers. It has rejected an offer from the employers that would mean a pay increase of only 1% over 31 months. Abvakabo argues that initiatives to retrain workers and find them alternative jobs will end up saving the authorities millions in the cost of unemployment benefit. CNV Publieke Zaak has also rejected the employers’ offer and is
Union set to send ultimatum to municipal employers
Negotiations on a new collective labour agreement to cover the 187,000 employees in municipalities sector have been suspended with the FNV trade union planning to send the VNG employers’ organisation an ultimatum over the holiday period to put pressure on them to negotiate. The union has been pushing for a 11.25% pay increase with a minimum increase of €300 a month, a one-off payment of €1,200 euros and the inclusion of the automatic price compensation in the collective agreement in 2024. The employers’ last pay offer was for only 5% as of 1 February 2023 and 3% as of 1 April 2024. The FNV is