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6 March, 2001Workers begin industrial action as negotiations for the metal-related and service branches encounter difficulties.
NETHERLANDS: Current collective bargaining negotiations in the metal-related and service branches ("Metaaltechniek") for the IMF's Dutch affiliates, the FNV Bondgenoten and the CNV Bedrijvenbond, have come into difficulty and strike action is being planned. This sector, also referred to as the "small metal branches," represents car repair workers, installation technicians, etc. -- in general, the service branches for the metal industry, with approximately 30,000 business concerns and 400,000 workers in the Netherlands.
The negotiations have encountered snags on issues such as:
- lack of co-determination on working time;
- lack of measures to increase employability and training efforts;
- the removal of one holiday;
- pay rises (employers have offered only 3.95 per cent over two years, whereas demands were for more than double this amount).
A first strike, backed by the IMF's affiliates, has already broken out in several companies, and the IMF has written to add its support.
The negotiations have encountered snags on issues such as:
- lack of co-determination on working time;
- lack of measures to increase employability and training efforts;
- the removal of one holiday;
- pay rises (employers have offered only 3.95 per cent over two years, whereas demands were for more than double this amount).
A first strike, backed by the IMF's affiliates, has already broken out in several companies, and the IMF has written to add its support.