Hospital labor talks break down as unions reject wage proposal

Negotiations between NU’91, other labor unions, and the Dutch Association of Hospitals (NVZ) have broken down, according to a press release from NU’91. After six rounds of discussions, the unions say the NVZ refuses to implement necessary improvements for the 220,000 hospital workers covered by the collective labor agreement. NU’91 and the other unions consider this unacceptable and are preparing for actions in response.

At the center of the dispute is the NVZ’s proposed wage increase: 4 percent in 2025, followed by just 2 percent in 2026. NU’91 chair Femke Merel van Kooten criticized the offer, calling it insufficient. “This increase barely keeps up with inflation in 2025. It does not even begin to address the wage backlog faced by caregivers and nurses. In 2026, this percentage will fall short of covering expected inflation,” she said.

Beyond wages, the unions argue that other key compensation issues remain unresolved. The proposal reportedly fails to include a fair allowance for changing into work attire, offers only a minimal increase in travel reimbursements, and does not adequately address irregular hours bonuses, overtime pay, or a fair system for BAC shifts.

NU’91 insists that healthcare professionals deserve better treatment. “It is time for the NVZ to take responsibility and return to the negotiating table with a serious offer,” Van Kooten stated. “Until then, our healthcare professionals will not remain idle. In our view, actions are inevitable.”