FNV

Interns in healthcare are very often left to their own devices, instructed to care for patients without being carefully shown how to perform medical tasks, according to reports from around 2 thousand interns, students and care workers collected by union FNV. According to the union, the staff shortages in healthcare lead to interns being used as fully-trained healthcare workers, while they do not yet have the experience or training for this.

The Netherlands is at risk of losing its high level of prosperity if the labor market does not change quickly and drastically, is the conclusion of a committee led by Hans Borstlap that investigated the state of the labor market on behalf of the Dutch government. Employers must offer permanent contracts much more often, the number of flex-workers and self-employed must be reduced, and more must be invested in knowledge and innovation, the committee concluded, NOS reports. Trade union FNV largely agrees with the conclusions.

Despite announced layoffs, employment at Tata Steel Nederland in IJmuiden "in outline" will be guaranteed until October 2021, the management of the metal group in the Netherlands wrote in a letter to trade union FNV, which is in the hands of the Telegraaf. The management of Tata Steel Nederland says it will adhere to previously made agreements with the trade unions, but adds that eventual layoffs are inevitable.

Dutch flag carrier airline KLM has agreed to a new labor agreement with its cabin crew that will see personnel receive a seven percent pay raise. The two sides reached the agreement in principle on Thursday night after nearly eight months of negotiations, the FNV labor union said.

Employees of steel producer Tata Steel gathered on the parking lot of FC Velsenoord in Velsen-Noord on Tuesday morning to protest against announced layoffs at the steel factory in IJmuiden. The employees are gathered to hear what managers of union FNV and the chairman of the company's Central Works Council have to say about their future, NH Nieuws reports.

Tax Authority employees don't feel safe at work, union FNV reports based on a survey among a thousand employees. Almost all respondents report an unsafe atmosphere at the workplace. People who are critical about the policy are reprimanded by managers and supervisors, with some even losing their job as a result, respondents said, NU.nl reports.

Nine out of ten hospitals in the Netherlands will be taking part in a strike for a better collective labor agreement on November 20th. A total of 82 hospitals and rehabilitation centers responded to the trade unions' call to strike. Employees of university hospitals will not participate because they fall under a different collective agreement, NU.nl reports.

KLM ground crew personnel at Schiphol will strike for the third time in two weeks on Wednesday afternoon. The Dutch airline canceled 12 European return flights as a precaution and expects that the strike will result in delays. Travelers are advised to keep an eye on current travel information through KLM's site. 

KLM ground crew employees will strike again on Wednesday, union FNV announced. Like Monday, they will not perform their duties between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

On Monday, around 500 workers of the Dutch airline's ground crew went on strike. This resulted in KLM having to cancel a total of 67 flights, only 11 of which the airline announced in advance.

KLM canceled a total of 11 departures and 10 arrivals at Schiphol airport on Monday due to a strike by the Dutch airline's ground crew. All flights are within Europe. 

The strike is happening between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. due to a conflict over a collective bargaining agreement. Union FNV wants an 8 percent wage increase over two years, a less flexible roster for ground crew, and for KLM to give more of its ground crew employees a permanent contract, according to NU.n. During negotiations, KLM did not agree to any of these demands.

ProRail wants to ban smoking at all train stations in the Netherlands. If the rail manager has its way, all smoking zones will disappear at the some 400 stations within the next two years, a spokesperson said to the Telegraaf.

ProRail receives many complaints from travelers who are bothered by smokers, the spokesperson said. The company therefore does not want to wait for a national smoking ban. "That's why we take the lead ourselves." The rail manager is currently working on convincing all parties involved to support the plan.