Netherlands
Background information on industrial relations in Netherlands
- 28 Dec 1998
Netherlands: Pension schemes and costs increasingly affect industrial relations<#PDF_LINK>In late 1998, the issue of pensions was prominent in Dutch industrial relations, owing to a number of developments. In November, the Lower House of Parliament approved a government proposal to allow for more flexible ways of building up pension rights. At the same time, pensioners' organisations launched a court case, claiming once again a share of excess pension fund reserves. Furthermore, experts raised concerns that interest rates may lead to a sharp rise in pension contributions and consequently in wage costs, while the "pension gap" for younger employees caused unrest in the dockyards sector.
- 28 Dec 1998
Netherlands: 1998 Working Conditions Act passed<#PDF_LINK>In early November 1998, the Lower Chamber of the Dutch Parliament passed a new Working Conditions Act. Under pressure from a majority in the Chamber, it adopted a number of amendments to the previous bill. For the most part, these changes will mean a continuation of the status quo. The most important new measure concerns increased emphasis on the responsibility for risk assessment and evaluation.
- 28 Dec 1998
Netherlands: Court bans wildcat strike on railways<#PDF_LINK>A Dutch court ruling on 8 December 1998 ended an unofficial "wildcat" strike held by a group of railway employees in the north-east of the Netherlands. The employees had been demanding a clear statement on their long-term pay.
- 28 Dec 1998
Netherlands: KPN Telecom redundancy plan accepted<#PDF_LINK>In late November 1998, KPN Telecom reached an agreement with trade unions in the Netherlands on the company's far-reaching reorganisation plans. Initially, union members' reactions to the agreement varied widely. However, a slightly amended plan was subsequently accepted.
- 28 Dec 1998
Netherlands: Unions and opposition parties present joint plan to alleviate poverty<#PDF_LINK>In December 1998, the two largest Dutch trade union organisations and the two major opposition parties published a joint plan aimed at alleviating poverty in the Netherlands, thus putting considerable pressure on the coalition government. The Lower House of parliament subsequently accepted two of the plan's proposals in the course of negotiations on the social affairs budget.
- 28 Dec 1998
Netherlands: Teachers' unions threaten national strike<#PDF_LINK>In December 1998, teachers' trade unions in the Netherlands threatened to launch a national strike. It appears unlikely that the rift between the unions' demand for a 6.25% pay rise and the 2.25% offer by the Minister of Education can be bridged.
- 28 Dec 1998
Netherlands: 1998 Annual Review for The Netherlands<#PDF_LINK>This record reviews 1998's main developments in industrial relations in The Netherlands
- 28 Nov 1998
Netherlands: Employers seek to restructure collective agreements<#PDF_LINK>Autumn 1998 has seen a new development in Dutch industrial relations, with employers from other sectors - such as banking and healthcare - seeking to follow the lead of some employers in the industrial sector, by calling for the abolition of sector-level agreements in favour of collective agreements at company level. The reactions of trade unions have been varied
- 28 Nov 1998
Netherlands: Wave of reorganisations at major Dutch groups: an end to the polder model?<#PDF_LINK>Early November 1998 marked the start of a turbulent period for the Dutch economy, with major company reorganisations announced at Philips, Shell, KPN and Baan, the causes of which varied widely. The largest trade union confederation, FNV, called for the cabinet to take measures to address the situation, while the VNO-NCW employers' confederation views FNV's reaction as being out of proportion. Nevertheless, it is too early to gauge the long-term consequences that this stand-off between employers and trade unions will have on the Dutch system of consultation (the so-called "polder model").
- 28 Nov 1998
Netherlands: Philips consults Dutch unions over reorganisation<#PDF_LINK>In November 1998, Philips invited Dutch trade unions for further consultations concerning worldwide reorganisation plans. At the same time, a rapid series of reorganisations have been taking place across the company's Dutch operations over late 1998.
- 28 Nov 1998
Netherlands: Akzo cuts 200 research jobs<#PDF_LINK>The decentralisation of Akzo Nobel's research activities - announced in November 1998 - will result in the loss of 200 jobs in the Netherlands. The Christian Trade Union Federation (CNV) fears that short-term thinking will prevail in the wake of the chemicals group's decentralisation.
- 28 Nov 1998
Netherlands: Hospitals seek to extend working week<#PDF_LINK>In the forthcoming collective bargaining round, Dutch hospital employers will seek to establish exceptions to the current 36-hour working week for certain staff. This was the first objective announced in November 1998 when the hospitals decided to depart from the wide-ranging collective agreement that covers the entire care sector.
- 28 Oct 1998
Netherlands: Works councils and their right of appeal - current trends<#PDF_LINK>Works councils in the Netherlands have had conspicuous success during 1998 in overturning the strategic business planning decisions of employers. Rulings have arguably, however, shown that the right of appeal of works councils does not present a fundamental attack on the policy-making freedom of the employer.
- 28 Oct 1998
Netherlands: 1998 sees widespread labour disputes in the social services<#PDF_LINK>In the Netherlands, 1998 has seen widespread labour conflict across practically the whole of the social services sector - for example in hospitals, education and daycare centres and amongst home carers. After years of wage moderation and efficiency cutbacks, employees want to benefit from current levels of economic growth and receive recognition for the value of their work in the form of better pay and less work pressure.
- 28 Oct 1998
Netherlands: Police union loses legal action over change in work-schedule regulations<#PDF_LINK>In mid-September 1998, a small Dutch police trade union (PVR) lost the summary legal proceedings that it had opened in an attempt to stop the introduction of new work schedules. The chief constable of the Rotterdam-Rijnmond region had imposed the standard national regulations as no agreement could be reached on amendments to the existing decentralised regulations.
- 28 Sep 1998
Netherlands: Kodak redundancy plan agreed following threat of court case<#PDF_LINK>Negotiations over a redundancy plan to accompany the closure of Kodak's production plant at Soestduinen in the Netherlands were broken off at the beginning of September 1998. However, following a threat by employees to take the company to court, Kodak reached an agreement in principle with trade unions.
- 28 Sep 1998
Netherlands: Small businesses breach recruitment and sickness benefit legislation<#PDF_LINK>Research published in autumn 1998 indicates that 50% of smaller businesses in the Netherlands have not yet taken measures relating to sick employees which are required by law. Furthermore, many small businesses are breaching the Employee Appointment Act by questioning job candidates about the state of their health.
- 28 Sep 1998
Netherlands: Social partners sceptical about new government's programme<#PDF_LINK>On 15 September 1998, the new government coalition in the Netherlands presented its policy programme for the next four years. The coalition proposes an increase in the burden of taxes and social security contributions for companies and citizens, despite having agreed on a reduction in summer 1998. The tone is low-key: economic growth has passed its peak and crises in the world economy call for a more cautious approach. The social partners' first comments were even more critical than their initial reaction to the coalition agreement.
- 28 Aug 1998
Netherlands: Pensions and pension funds become major issue in Dutch industrial relations<#PDF_LINK>During the 1997/8 Dutch collective bargaining rounds, pensions were a major issue. Pensions and pension funds appear - directly and indirectly - to have a major influence on terms of employment and industrial relations in the Netherlands.
- 28 Aug 1998
Netherlands: Labour shortages in sectors with poor terms of employment<#PDF_LINK>During summer 1998, Dutch employers in agriculture and market gardening are having to contend with labour shortages during harvesting, and are pressing for liberalisation of regulations. Shortages in this sector, as well as in other sectors, such as the hotel and catering industry, can be explained in part by the relatively poor terms of employment.
- 28 Aug 1998
Netherlands: Agreement on employability and employment security at ABN Amro<#PDF_LINK>Under a deal reached in August 1998, employees at the ABN Amro bank in the Netherlands will receive an employment guarantee if they agree to a work and training plan during negotiations with their departmental heads.
- 28 Aug 1998
Netherlands: Kodak wants to close its plant in Soest<#PDF_LINK>Trade unions and the works council are opposing the intended closure of Kodak's plant in Soest in the Netherlands, announced in August 1998.
- 28 Jul 1998
Netherlands: Reforming the employee benefit system: how much privatisation?<#PDF_LINK>In July 1998, during the negotiations to form the Netherlands' second "purple coalition" cabinet, the Labour Party, Social Democrats and Liberals agreed to privatise the administration of unemployment and disability benefits almost completely. An exception was made for the assessment of the claims themselves, which will be carried out by a public body. This outcome can be seen as a breakthrough in the process of reforming this system, which has been underway since the early 1990s. It also reflects the ideology of the governing coalition, in which the parties are willing to meet one another halfway.
- 28 Jul 1998
Netherlands: Churches rally against the 24-hour economy<#PDF_LINK>In June 1998, churches in the Netherlands began a campaign against the "24-hour economy", claiming that this phenomenon damages the well-being of society. They have asked the Government not to wait, but to take immediate action. The initiative received both support and criticism. However, research indicates that today's "stressed society" is not a result of the 24-hour economy but of the way in which people live their lives.
- 28 Jul 1998
Netherlands: Social partners criticise new Government's coalition agreement<#PDF_LINK>Both employers' organisations and trade unions have been critical about the July 1998 agreement forming the basis of the Netherlands' second "purple coalition" Government made up of the Labour Party, the Social Democrats and the Liberal Party.
- 28 Jul 1998
Netherlands: Unrest hits food sector<#PDF_LINK>In July 1998, the food sector in the north of the Netherlands was shaken by labour unrest. First, the dairy concern, Friesland Coberco Dairy Foods announced the closure of six cheese factories within three years. Meanwhile, employees at Douwe Egberts in Joure went on strike to protest against the on-call days they had to work. After a strike lasting several days, the management agreed to the union's demands.
- 28 Jul 1998
Netherlands: Privatisation of Dutch Sickness Benefits Act said to conflict with European Social Charter<#PDF_LINK>The privatisation of the Sickness Benefits Act in the Netherlands is in conflict with the European Social Charter. This was the conclusion reached in July 1998 by the Committee of Independent Experts of the Council of Europe responsible for ensuring compliance with the Charter. The FNV trade union confederation has proposed that the Dutch parliament investigate the matter further.
- 28 Jun 1998
Netherlands: Tight labour market challenges Dutch consultation system<#PDF_LINK>In the spring of 1998, the tripartite advisory Social and Economic Council submitted a report to the Dutch Government about medium- to long-term socio-economic policy. It warned that increasing pressure on the labour market may constitute the most important challenge to the Dutch consultation system over the next five years. However, the Council was unable to reach consensus on budgetary policy or on a strategy to fight poverty.
- 28 Jun 1998
Netherlands: Labour Foundation agrees privatisation of social security<#PDF_LINK>In June 1998, the bipartite Labour Foundation agreed a plan to reorganise the Dutch social security system. The agreement marks a breakthrough: for the first time in 50 years, the social partners have come to terms with major reforms of the social security system. The plan differs on a fundamental point from the cabinet proposal in this area presented in March 1998, as it seeks to privatise fully the administration of social security.
- 28 Jun 1998
Netherlands: Strikes in welfare sector in support of pay demands<#PDF_LINK>Strikes broke out in the Dutch welfare sector throughout the first half of June 1998 in support of trade union demands in bargaining over a new collective agreement. As in other sectors, wage demands and workloads are the most important issues in negotiations. The employers' final offer - a 5.4% pay rise spread over two years - has been rejected.
- 28 Jun 1998
Netherlands: Gender bias found in healthcare job evaluations<#PDF_LINK>The job evaluation system in Dutch healthcare discriminates against female employees. This finding, published in May 1998 by the Committee for Equal Treatment was the final ruling in a lawsuit filed in 1993 by a nurses' trade union. The union is now demanding that nursing staff be reclassified in a higher wage category.
- 28 Jun 1998
Netherlands: Wildcat strikes and collective agreements in public transport<#PDF_LINK>Once again, public transport in the Netherlands was subjected to a series of "wildcat" strikes in June 1998. Nevertheless, collective bargaining for Dutch Railways and the regional transport system have both resulted in new two-year collective agreements.
- 28 May 1998
Netherlands: New legislation promotes participation of ethnic minorities<#PDF_LINK>The Dutch Government is seeking to promote the participation of people from ethnic minorities on the labour market by means of a new law, adopted in April 1998. Previous legislation was generally considered to be inadequate. Many provisions of the new law have been borrowed from a 1996 agreement between the central employers' and employees' organisations.
- 28 May 1998
Netherlands: Share-option schemes for executive directors cause consternation<#PDF_LINK>The often lavish share-option schemes for the executive directors of listed companies provoked Dutch legislators to take action in May 1998. Meanwhile, voices are being heard seeking to extend the options for employees to acquire shares in their own company. Representatives of trade unions for civil servants and employees in the healthcare sector, who do not qualify for these schemes, are demanding that these employees also profit from increasing profits and share prices.
- 28 May 1998
Netherlands: Flexibility and security bill adopted by First Chamber of Parliament<#PDF_LINK>In May 1998 the First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament adopted the "flexibility and security" bill, which will fundamentally amend Dutch dismissals law when it comes into force at the beginning of 1999. The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment is also in agreement with the First Chamber's wish to set up a committee to advise the Government about the future of dismissals law.
- 28 May 1998
Netherlands: Wave of strikes hits public transport<#PDF_LINK>In May 1998, a series of strikes hit both regional bus transport companies and the railways in the Netherlands. They were organised in protest at proposed plans for restructuring.
- 28 May 1998
Netherlands: Netherlands submits employment Action Plan to European Commission<#PDF_LINK>At the end of March 1998, the Dutch Government submitted its National Action Plan on employment to the European Commission. This Plan, which stems from agreements reached in November 1997 during the Employment Summit in Luxembourg, also served as a preparation for the European Council meeting in Cardiff in June 1998. The social partners were consulted when drawing up the plan.
- 28 May 1998
Netherlands: Bargaining parties in healthcare reach agreement<#PDF_LINK>On 10 May 1998, employers and the trade unions in the Dutch healthcare sector reached a new collective agreement. This was made possible after a debate in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament, in which the outgoing Minister of Health offered employers a chance for renegotiation in the autumn if the budget proves to be inadequate.
- 28 Apr 1998
Netherlands: Case law governing strike activity reviewed<#PDF_LINK>In 1997, as in previous years, there were very few strikes in the Netherlands. However, despite this, judges are quite often called upon in industrial disputes. An analysis of recent case law reveals that strikes are permitted only as a last resort and when the rights and interests of third parties are not prejudiced disproportionately.
- 28 Apr 1998
Netherlands: Company doctors criticise privatisation of Sickness Benefits Act<#PDF_LINK>The consequences of the further "privatisation" of the Netherlands' Sickness Benefits Act in 1996 have been closely scrutinised. Research published in March 1998 has demonstrated that more than 90% of company and insurance doctors are aware of negative consequences of privatisation. Additionally, on the basis of employee experience, the Dutch Trade Union Federation (FNV) has come to the conclusion that amendments are necessary. This view is shared by other organisations involved.
- 28 Apr 1998
Netherlands: Arbitration by Prime Minister in healthcare bargaining dispute<#PDF_LINK>Following a series of unsuccessful talks between the Minister of Health and healthcare employers in April 1998, the Dutch Prime Minister, Wim Kok, stepped in to mediate in the dispute over a new collective agreement for the sector.
- 28 Apr 1998
Netherlands: Dutch employers and employees argue for a longer working week<#PDF_LINK>The call for a longer working week has become increasingly loud during early 1998, not only within Dutch employers' circles but among some employee organisations as well. The Dutch Federation of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses wishes to return to a 40-hour working week, while the Association for Higher-grade Personnel is even arguing for a 42-hour working week. In reaction to this, the Christian Trade Union Federation has stated that increased workloads - and hence the call for a longer working week - is merely the result of implementing a shorter working week without sufficiently expanding the workforce to compensate for it.
- 28 Apr 1998
Netherlands: Role of social partners an issue in plans for new social security system<#PDF_LINK>The basis of the Netherlands' proposed future social security system was laid down in a memorandum published by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment at the end of March 1998. According to this memorandum, trade unions will no longer play a role in the administration of social security benefits.
- 28 Apr 1998
Netherlands: New collective agreements concluded at three major Dutch multinationals<#PDF_LINK>In the spring of 1998, collective agreements were renewed at three major Dutch companies: Akzo Nobel, Philips and Unilever. A common feature of the three agreements is that pay increases are above the 2.25% inflation rate expected for 1998. Differences still exist regarding the extent to which the agreements should include training programmes to improve employability.
- 28 Mar 1998
Netherlands: New initiatives to grant employees the right to work part time<#PDF_LINK>In February 1998, both the Christian Democrats and the left-wing Groenlinks party formulated new legislative proposals to give employees a right to work part time. The latter party's initial bill on this issue had been blocked by the Christian Democrats in late 1997.
- 28 Mar 1998
Netherlands: Working Conditions Bill aims to decentralise policy to company level<#PDF_LINK>In February 1998, a legislative proposal to amend the Working Conditions Act was submitted to the Upper (Second) Chamber of the Dutch Parliament. The Government aims to ensure that the implementation of its policy on working conditions is carried out at company level as far as possible.
- 28 Mar 1998
Netherlands: Function contracts and flexible pay are bargaining bottlenecks<#PDF_LINK>In the 1998 Dutch collective bargaining round, progress has been difficult in some companies over employers's wishes for separate contracts for specific categories of employee - which trade unions believe will increase working hours - and for flexible pay schemes.
- 28 Mar 1998
Netherlands: Trade union and security company clash over trainees' pay and working time<#PDF_LINK>In March 1998, the Dutch FNV Bondgenoten trade union, is accusing the security company, Randon, of non-compliance with both the Minimum Wage Act and the Working Conditions Act when employing trainees.
- 28 Mar 1998
Netherlands: Agreement on healthcare waiting lists as tension rises over bargaining round<#PDF_LINK>In mid-March 1998, the social partners involved in healthcare in the Netherlands unanimously decided to adopt measures to reduce waiting lists. This marks a serious effort to prevent the development of a two-tier healthcare system and was strongly supported by the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sports. However, the next dispute - over the forthcoming collective bargaining round in the sector - already looms on the horizon.
- 28 Feb 1998
Netherlands: Social partners abandon employee priority for healthcare<#PDF_LINK>In late January 1998, the Dutch social partners reconsidered their jointly agreed position to give priority to employees in the use of healthcare facilities, soon after reaching it, following opposition from some member trade unions of the FNV confederation. The proposal was also rejected, following consideration, by the Government. This issue has sparked heated debate in political circles and in the healthcare sector.
- 28 Feb 1998
Netherlands: Training and pay claims prove difficult in 1998 bargaining round<#PDF_LINK>In November 1997, the social partners represented on the Netherlands' Labour Foundation seemed to have reconfirmed the reputation of the Dutch "consultation model" by jointly averting a possible end to the policy of pay moderation. It was agreed in the Foundation to continue moderate pay increases in exchange for employee training opportunities and sick leave. However, initial analysis of negotiations in early 1998 reveals that, in practice, it is very difficult to translate the provisions of such an agreement reached at central level into a form that is acceptable to the social partners at sector or company level.
- 28 Feb 1998
Netherlands: Secondary education teachers strike en masse<#PDF_LINK>A dispute in the Dutch secondary education sector, which had been brewing for several months, finally erupted into a national "relay" strike in February 1998. The teachers' workload is at the heart of the conflict: the trade unions demand that the number of teaching hours be reduced, while the employers respond that they lack the funds.
- 28 Feb 1998
Netherlands: First Chamber approves revised Works Councils Act<#PDF_LINK>In February 1998, the First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament approved the new Works Councils Act. A few days earlier, a research report had revealed that many small companies fail to comply with the requirements either to establish a works council or to hold regular meetings of staff.
- 28 Feb 1998
Netherlands: Focus on work-related stress in the Netherlands<#PDF_LINK>A recent study has found that 60% of Dutch employees suffer from work-related stress. The unions have placed this issue at the top of their agenda for the 1998 collective bargaining round.
- 28 Jan 1998
Netherlands: Corporate governance: Dutch system under fire?<#PDF_LINK>In late 1997, a legislative proposal was submitted to the Dutch Parliament to reduce the use of anti-takeover measures in listed companies. A few months earlier, the Corporate Governance Committee had issued its final report. Discussions surrounding corporate governance have focused on the position of shareholders vis-à-vis the management board and the supervisory board members. The trade union movement has particularly criticised the lack of attention paid to workers' interests.
- 28 Jan 1998
Netherlands: Unions claim higher basic wages while employers offer performance-related pay<#PDF_LINK>The trade union in the Netherlands' trend-setting metalworking industry is demanding a 4.75% increase in pay for 1998. By contrast, the VNO-NCW employers' organisation wants to eliminate pay scales based on automatic wage increases and would rather pay variable wages based on individual performance.
- 28 Jan 1998
Netherlands: Civil service union supports better pay for workers on job-creation schemes<#PDF_LINK>December 1997 and January 1998 have seen industrial action in public transport and refuse collection, called by the Dutch civil service trade union, AbvaKabo, in support of wage claims by workers recruited on several job-creation schemes. Amsterdam city council will meet the demands, while the city of Leiden has also taken a positive stance.
- 28 Jan 1998
Netherlands: Employability proves to be thorny issue in bargaining round<#PDF_LINK>Employers and trade unions in the Netherlands cannot seem to agree on subjects relating to "employability" during the 1998 collective bargaining round.