Unions support campaign for sheltered employment and against austerity

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

The SAK and STTK trade union confederations are continuing their campaign against government proposals that attack the welfare state, employment and trade union rights. The next step will be a national demonstration in Helsinki on 1 February. They are also calling for support from civil society organisations. The confederations have been participating in tripartite working groups, discussions set up by the government and in parliamentary hearings, emphasising how badly workers will be affected by the government’s policies. The first reductions affecting the unemployed have already entered into