Credit: Wilbert Zuil
They want to check in June 2024 whether the agreed wage increase is at least as high as the consumer price index (CPI) between May 2023 and May 2024. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) keeps track of this. If the agreed wage increase is lower, they want the salary to be increased by the difference in July 2024. Earlier, DNB president Klaas Knot called for wage demands in the Netherlands not to be linked to inflation.
Disagree again
Once again, unions disagree on wage demands. FNV/CNV are jointly going for 15 percent, consisting of 7.5 percent in July 2023 and 7.5 percent in January 2024. NU’91 wants a wage increase of 10 percent in July and 5 percent in January. Furthermore, FNV/CNV also want a floor of 400 euros per month for low incomes.
“We have different target groups, so you put your own accent,” says FNV director Bert de Haas during a demonstration by the trade unions in front of the ActiZ and VGN office in Utrecht. “Ultimately you have to get out of there around the table. We are actually used to that. We do not see it as very problematic that we put a different emphasis than NU’91.”
Eight-hour shifts
He says about the conversations with the employers. “We both have an interest in getting out as quickly as possible. The employers because they have to use that in their negotiations with insurers. We because we want a wage increase for our members that takes effect as soon as possible. The longer we wait to conclude an agreement, the later that additional addition will come.”
In addition to the wage increases, FNV and CNV demand an increase in the travel allowance to the tax-exempt amount. FNV also wants employees in permanent teams to be given first choice when it comes to scheduling and that eight-hour shifts become the norm.
