Netherlands: FNV union organizes estates general to end its divisions

The Dutch Labor Federation (FNV), the country’s key union, decided to organize a “Parliament” between in 19 affiliates to do a democratic reform and settle internal differences on the pension reform, which are still quite strong.  The issue shattered the union from the inside because FNV and Allies (manufacturing) and Abvakabo (civil servants) strongly disagreed with the agreement the management signed with the government, which brought retirement age from 65 up to 67.  in concrete terms, the FNV is organizing general meetings across the country to consult its members.  There will be meetings everywhere between September 24 and October 4 in order to shed light over the pension reform – hurrying the initial schedule determined by five Parliament parties last April, without consulting the trade unions, who had a hard time accepting it.  The meetings also aim to reorganize the new FNV into trades and sectors, in a more flexible manner.  Then, decisions will follow these estates general, which will start two weeks after the legislative election and in with the new collective bargaining season starting.
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ting it. The meetings also aim to reorganize the new FNV into trades and sectors, in a more flexible manner. Then, decisions will follow these estates general, which will start two weeks after the legislative election and in with the new collective bargaining season starting.

The FNV isn’t the only one worrying about its weaknesses. Employers meet four times a year in the “Club of Eleven” (“Club van Elf”) made up of HRDs from 10 large businesses (ABN Amro, Ahold, DSM, Philips, Unilever, KPN,

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