Netherlands: employers accuse unions of giving into “extremism”

The two most powerful unions in the Netherlands, affiliated with the FNV, are worrying employers. The offensive tactic adopted by the FNV and Allies (active in industry) for five years, and by the Abvakabo (civil service and paragovernmental sector, including the post) would question the “polder model” which favors negotiations and finding a consensus in industrial relations. Employers are more and more dreading “guerilla” actions organized by small radical groups, Joep Rats, in charge of industrial relations at the VNO-NCW, declared in an interview published on may 17th in the Het Financieele Dagblad economic daily. He says that the FNV is “held hostage” by unionists close to the small socialist party (SP), more radical than the labor party (PDVA), traditionally linked with the FNV. According to Jeop Rats, the FNV and Allies is using “organizers” randomly visiting businesses to be better aware of problems in the field. They drive employees to send their grievances to their superiors, via different ways, including open letters or strikes. Thus, Joep Rats says that it’s increasingly complicated to negotiate at central level. “For instance, take the debate on the increase of retirement age: several studies showed that most people understood the need to reform the system, but unions, with the support of the SP and of the PVV (Freedom Party, populist right), remained opposed to retirement at 67 for a long time. (…) We’re hoping the union movement isn’t going to disappear because of its extremist wing.” Unions’ proximity strategy is also aimed at combating the wearing out of their base and competition coming from new forms of mobilization – wild strikes and actions carried out by the “Internet vakbond” – the e-union launched by De Unie in 2005. this rather unusual stance from the VNO-NCW brings out employers’ uneasiness in the face of increased polarization in society, because of the rise in left-wing and right-wing populism, just before the legislative elections of June 9, which will come right before the social negotiations of the fall.