The metal and technical branch employs 33,000 people, notably in companies doing metal work, technical installation, repairs, weatherproofing and air conditioning. It is one of the biggest collective agreements in the Netherlands. There is also the ‘heavy metal’ branch, which brings together about 1,250 companies (140,000 workers), notably in the cycling industry, shipbuilding and the rail industry, often as suppliers. Employees in the auto industry, another branch of the metal industry, where 80,000 people work, are covered by the “heavy metal” collective agreement.
Complicated negotiations. Mid-June, unions suspended the talks in both sectors and launched collective actions to get them to agree on more advantageous conditions for the workers.