Academic hospital staff to get a 7 percent pay raise under new labor agreement

Staff at the university medical centers (UMCs) are set to receive a 7 percent salary increase in the coming years. The FNV union announced that this agreement was reached during talks for a new collective labor agreement and, like healthcare unions CNV and NU’91, is now putting the deal to its members for a vote.

The collective labor agreement covering staff at the university medical centers will be in effect from the start of 2026 through the end of 2027 and applies to around 80,000 employees working at the seven UMCs across the Netherlands.

Under the new collective labor agreement, employees will receive two pay raises: 3.5 percent this July and a further 3.5 percent in May of next year. The deal also introduces a 47 percent premium for working on Saturday mornings, grants 4 additional leave hours starting next year, and raises the monthly internship allowance to 500 euros.

In addition, the mileage reimbursement will rise from 18 to 21 cents per kilometer, and he agreement also includes provisions covering reimbursements and policies for hormone-related health matters, including menstruation and fertility, while further introducing measures to enhance workplace safety, including removing the obligation for employees to wear visible name tags on their work clothing in order to curb stalking and other forms of unwanted attention.

The deal also sets out provisions for paid breaks and expanded training options, shifting the focus of the collective labor agreement more strongly toward work–life balance and ongoing professional development, including the use of training vouchers.

After around 3 months of negotiations between the unions FNV, CNV, and NU’91 and the employers’ association UMCNL, a tentative agreement was reached. The FNV says the process was far from easy, with the possibility of staff action looming at one stage.

One of the union’s board members, Elise Merlijn, says the union is pleased with the outcome and will now present the agreements to its members at the university medical centers, who will ultimately decide by voting on the collective labor agreement in the near future.