Student and care transport strike for better collective bargaining next week

Employees in school and care transport will strike next week for better collective bargaining. Previously, members of FNV Zorgvervoer and Taxi had rejected the employers’ latest collective bargaining offer. An ultimatum from unions to prevent action ended today, but employers missed that deadline, according to unions.

An important demand from union members is that wages increase relative to store prices. For this year, that means at least 12.5% ​​more salary. But employers want to spread out a 12 percent pay increase over the two years: 8 percent in 2023 and another 4 percent the following year.

Strike is the last resort

There is also dissatisfaction with health services. In case of illness, the worker is paid 70 percent of his first day salary. “It’s really antisocial. Nobody gets sick voluntarily, but employees are now being punished for it.” Says Meindert Gorter, director of FNV. Employees are also dissatisfied with their unstructured roster and pay cuts for breaks.

“Strictly speaking, strikes are a last resort in this industry of very determined workers,” Gorter says. “Drivers prefer to get their passengers from A to B safely, but they can no longer get by on their paychecks.”

40 percent more cost

Employers united in Royal Dutch Transport are dissatisfied with the measures announced. Spokesman Hilbert Michel believes the incident was driven “on the backs of the students”. According to him, if they meet the demands of the workers, the cost to employers will increase by 40 percent.

The current wage agreement applies to 22,000 employees and expires at the end of this year. Starting in May, new employment terms were negotiated. It is not yet known exactly where and when the strike will take place.