Unions prepare new strikes at Heineken

Trade unions FNV and CNV are preparing new strikes at beer brewer Heineken. This week, employees already took action out of dissatisfaction with the stalled talks on a new collective labor agreement. Where the new strikes will take place and how long they will last is not yet known.

Last Wednesday, employees of the Heineken breweries in Zoeterwoude and Den Bosch and at the head office in Amsterdam stopped working for 24 hours. Production in the breweries came to a complete standstill, according to FNV director Nurettin Altundal.

With this week's strike, the unions wanted to "send a strong signal" and force Heineken to come up with a better proposal, but according to the unions, the brewer has not yet responded to the demands. The collective labor agreements for the breweries, commercial division, and the international Heineken Group all expire at the end of this year. FNV is asking for a 7 percent wage increase in 2025, and CNV for 5 percent. Heineken previously stuck to 5.5 percent in two years.

According to Heineken, FNV and CNV are refusing the "outstretched hand" of the brewer to resume talks. The company is inviting the unions to return to the negotiating table. "We regret that FNV and CNV made no move during negotiations and unilaterally claim to have been 'negotiated out'." Heineken calls the strikes "a disproportionate measure".

"The ultimatum of FNV with all thirteen demands, including automatic price compensation, means that we simply have to sign on the cross," says the brewer. "That is one-way traffic and no consultation." According to Heineken, the company has spoken to many colleagues and has already taken steps on important themes that come up in those discussions, such as customized schedules and salary. "We are still very willing to talk about this further in order to take concrete steps towards each other."