Pensioner group plans to affiliate to Dutch trade union confederation

The FNV, the largest union confederation in the Netherlands is in discussion with the pensioners' group ANBO on the possibility of ANBO affiliating to the FNV.

The two bodies worked closely together at the end of 2006, organising action on a range of issues linked to retirement. And both sides see benefits from a formal link.

For the FNV, it would allow it to focus resources on younger workers, while ANBO would gain access to a number of tripartite bodies, such as the Netherlands' social and economic council.

Last month, the ruling bodies of the FNV and ANBO gave the green light for formal discussions, and over the coming months a joint project group will examine the practical implications. If the discussions are successful, the ANBO could join the FNV on 1 January 2008. With 180,000 members it would become the third largest union in the confederation.