Ambulance workers go back on strike

Ambulance workers will again be striking for a better collective bargaining agreement this week. The strikes will happen on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in different regions spread over the Netherlands, union FNV Care & Welfare announced on Sunday. 

"Ambulance workers has been without a collective agreement for 10 months already", said Fred Seifert, director of FNV Care & Welfare. "Even after the ruling by the Noord-Nederland court, employer Ambulancezorg Nederland will still not consider our demands for more purchasing power, a responsible senior policy and good agreements on working conditions." The union is also demanding a structural wage increase of 2.5 percent and that the unsocial hours and overtime pay not be tampered with.

During these strikes, all scheduled ambulance transport will be cancelled and the ambulances will only respond to emergency situations. The workers will stay on their own headquarters and study or distribute flyers.

The strikes will take place as follows:

• Monday, October 19th, between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. in the regions of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Noord-Holland-Noord, Gelderland Zuid and Kennemerland
• Wednesday, October 21st, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in Gooi and Vecht and from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Flevoland, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Noord-Holland-Noord, Kennemerland and Gelderland Zuid.
• Friday, October 23rd, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Kennemerland, Noord-Holland-Noord and Flevoland and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Utrecht.