Netherlands: transformation of the FNV trade union confederation is well underway

The country’s strongest trade union the FNV is going through a period of transition, ever since the deep crisis in 2011, which revealed internal weaknesses and which led the organisation to  consider a transformation plan. The new approach involves does away with the former central/federations structure and puts a united union structure in its place.
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Pension reforms: the catalyst for union discord. The FNV trade union confederation is currently made up of 18 separate industry unions with memberships ranging from around 100 to over 100,000. In 2011 a fundamental dispute over pension reform plans (agreed by employers, the government and the confederations) led to a serious crisis and tensions between the FNV and its affiliates. A consequence of the crisis was the change of the leadership. An advisory group of quartermasters was nominated to f

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