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)
Workers in sheltered employment demonstrate over agreement and cuts to services
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Sheltered employment protestors arrested
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)->http://www.fnv.nl/sector-en-cao/alle-sectoren/overheid/sociale-werkvoorziening/sos-sw/] [And at > FNV (NL)->http://www.fnv.nl/over-fnv/nieuws
Unions support campaign for sheltered employment and against austerity
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
Culture workers demonstrate against cuts
Workers at the National Institute for Performing Arts and Music (INAEM) have organised a demonstration for 19 April in protest at cuts and changes to working conditions. The FSC-CCOO public services federation wants to make clear that it sees culture as a public service and the cuts threaten to restrict the enjoyment of the arts to the rich. The union is also protesting against unilateral changes to working conditions including annual leave and working time. Read more at > FSC-CCOO (ES)