The FNV and Allies (FNV Bondgenoten), the Netherlands’ key union, present in the industry and armed with 500,000 members, called on its members to send emails against the pension reform by June 21st. This is the day the Parliament is supposed to set the date for the ballot to adopt the bill. The union wants to force Henk Kamp, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, to amend the bill on the pensions reform (increasing official retirement age from 65 to 66 in 2020 and then to 67 in 2025, 0.6% increase of old-age pension (AOW) in 2013 in addition to indexation on inflation, see our dispatch No. 110406). The union claims its campaign is successful but doesn’t give the number of emails received over the weekend. Failure seems likely: the FNV and Allies is the only union opposed to the reform. The issue of pensions, debated since 2006, has already been subject to lengthy discussions but also, and above all, to a formal consensus between the social partners before the legislative election of June 9, 2010. In political terms, the liberal government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte has no reason to back down: the announcement of the reform, expected and anticipated, didn’t change its popularity ratings in the polls.
rmal consensus between the social partners before the legislative election of June 9, 2010. In political terms, the liberal government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte has no reason to back down: the announcement of the reform, expected and anticipated, didn’t change its popularity ratings in the polls.
Planet Labor, June 20, 2011, No. 110414 – www.planetlabor.com
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