Labor unions could soon begin protests, strikes over early retirement

Dutch trade unions FNV, CNV, and VCP are preparing various labor actions after the government did not respond to the ultimatum they set. The unions wanted to force the government to come up with a permanent arrangement for people with hard physical labor jobs who wish to retire earlier. The first protests are expected to start at the end of May.

The FNV announced earlier that the protests will start on a small scale, but could grow to "strikes that will disrupt the Dutch economy." It is unknown in which sectors the actions will be taken, but FNV spoke about the construction sector, the police, public transport, and the harbors.

The current Early Retirement Scheme (RVU) expires at the end of this year. The plan ensures that people who have worked in more physically demanding jobs for a longer time can retire earlier. They have a right to benefits to bridge the gap to the state pension age.

The unions pleaded for a structural arrangement for hard manual labor, mainly because the unions claim that this was agreed upon when the government signed the Pension Act. The arrangement also needs to be broader.

FNV chair Piet Rietman said the union will organize brief strikes. "They can become longer and more severe if The Hague does not agree to a permanent arrangement for heavy jobs" that helps guarantee their livelihood, Rietman said on Tuesday night.

VCP chair Nic van Holstein was disappointed that the request has not generated a response. "For certain employees, early retirement is the only solution to reach retirement with good health. A good arrangement is essential for that," he stated.

Negotiations about a new scheme with employee organizations broke down in December. Business organizations VNO-NCW and MKB-Netherlands, as well as the Netherlands Agricultural and Horticultural Association (LTO) felt that the unions' ultimatum was premature. "We cannot see this as any different than just aiming for protests and not taking the agreements and constructive discussions seriously," the business organizations wrote in a letter to their members at the start of the month.

However, CNV chair Jan-Pieter Daems said he believes thinks there is still a wide gap between the unions' demands and what the employers and the Cabinet are offering. "We, as the unions, are really not asking for a new early retirement scheme, but we are asking for a good arrangement for people with heavy jobs. Surely that can be agreed upon."