Court forbids pharmacy workers strike next week, preventing likely 9-day closure
The court has ruled that pharmacy workers in the Netherlands cannot proceed with their planned strike during the Christmas period, a decision that will prevent most pharmacies from closing for nine consecutive days. The strike was scheduled for December 23, 24, and 27, which, combined with the Christmas holiday on December 25 and 26, would have led to widespread closures throughout the country.
The court’s injunction only covers the period from December 23-30, potentially leaving the door open for unions to call a national strike around New Year’s Day, which falls on a Wednesday.
The union-backed walkout was set to involve employees at all pharmacies under the collective labor agreement for pharmacies, with the exception of those pharmacies providing emergency services. The workers, represented by the trade unions FNV and CNV, had demanded higher wages and better working conditions. The unions cited concerns over low pay and rising job demands as the primary reasons for the strike, which they had pursued after previous negotiations failed to yield sufficient agreements.
The court’s ruling was issued after a fast-tracked legal hearing held on December 19. The employers, represented by the Association of Independent Public Pharmacies (WZOA) and the Association of Chain Pharmacies (ASKA), sought a temporary injunction to stop the strike, citing potential harm to public health.
The employers warned that the strike, particularly over the busy holiday period, would lead to the closure of around 1,950 pharmacies from December 20 to 30, including the regular closures for the weekend and the Christmas holiday. “This means that pharmacies could be closed for nine days in a row, a situation that is untenable,” said WZOA and ASKA representatives during the hearing. They argued that delayed access to medication could result in serious health risks for patients, including increased pain and complications for those dependent on regular prescriptions.
The unions, however, argued that the strike was necessary to force employers to meet their demands. "The insurance companies and employers have pushed us to this point," said a union representative. "This is absolutely necessary, despite the inconvenience it may cause to patients."
In the court’s decision, the judge sided with the employers, ruling that the risks of the strike were too great to allow it to proceed. The court emphasized that the strike during the holiday period could lead to severe delays in the delivery of critical medications, which could result in irreparable harm to patients' health.
The unions had initially called for the strike to demand a 6 percent retroactive wage increase from July 1, 2024, as well as an increase in the minimum hourly wage to 16 euros. They also sought more measures to address the growing work pressure and to ensure employees are compensated for preparatory work time. Employers, however, had proposed a more modest two percent raise retroactively for July, with an additional five percent increase starting next year, citing financial limitations due to government and insurance policies.
This planned strike follows a series of protests by pharmacy workers earlier this year. The unions held regional strikes across the country, and the first national pharmacy strike in history took place on November 12, when around 10,000 workers gathered in The Hague to demand better pay and working conditions.
